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Original Date Announced
January 20, 2025During the Biden administration, the White House and multiple departments and agencies adopted policies and practices to use terms like "noncitizen" and "undocumented noncitizen" in place of terms like "alien" and "illegal alien."
Although there does not appear to be one central directive from the Trump administration instructing federal officials to abandon this change, the White House and many departments and agencies have begun to do so, including through the rescission of Biden-era policies.
Trump 2.0 [ID # 1502]
CBP One Mobile Application Website Update EO: "Protecting the American People Against Invasion" 2025.01.21 Reporting on New Directions to CBP 2025.01.21 ICE Terminology Memo EOIR PM 25-07: TerminologyEffective Date
January 20, 2025Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)
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March 31, 2025
2025.03.31 ICE - Memo on Updated Terminology for Communications Materials and Internal and External Communications
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons issued an updated terminology memorandum to supplement ICE's January 21, 2025 memo. In addition to the terminology changes from the previous memo, the updated memorandum directs ICE officials to use the term “illegal alien” instead of “undocumented alien"; “special interest alien” instead of “special interest undocumented individual"; “foreign student” instead of “international student"; and “asylum applicant” instead of “asylum seeker.”
View Document
Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter:Associated or Derivative Policies
Pre Trump-Era Policies
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February 2, 2021
EO 14012, "Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans," directs the Federal government to develop welcoming strategies that promote integration and inclusion.
EO on Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans -
April 19, 2021
Memorandum from the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection directing the CBP workforce to no longer use "noncitizen" or "migrant" in place of "alien" to align with the Biden Administration's guidance regarding immigration terminology.
CBP Memorandum on Updated Terminology for CBP Communications and Materials - July 26, 2021 EOIR PM 21-27
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
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New Policy
Original Source:
CBP One Mobile Application, Recent Updates
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New Policy
Original Source:
EO 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion
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New Policy
Original Source:
Ali Bradley X Post on New Direction to CBP
- New Policy
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New Policy
Original Source:
EOIR PM 25-07: Terminology
- Prior Policy
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Prior Policy
Original Source:
2021.04.19 Updated Terminology for CBP Communications and Materials
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Prior Policy
- Subsequent Action
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To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com