'Alien' to be removed in California

Government offices and different agencies have been updating their immigration language in recent years

Alien, not relating to the extraterrestrial but the word that is used to mean foreigner of a country will no longer be used in Californian state laws. The term, according to Governor Gavin Newsom, is an offensive term for a human being, and that has provoked discordant and hurtful stories.

 

The governor signed a law to remove the term from across all sections of the California state code. California has already passed laws to get rid of the term from the state's labor and education code in 2015 and 2016.

 

The word 'alien' will be replaced with terms like "noncitizen' or 'immigrant', which is a more appropriate name to use. "By changing this term, we are ensuring California's laws reflect our state's values," Newsom said.

 

In addition to the said law, the governor also signed another legislation stating that crimes  geared towards people based on their immigration status are classified as hate crimes and that private detention facilities in California must obey local and state public health orders.


Lou Ella

48 Blog posts

Comments