Dean Johnson Comments on 'Undocumented' vs. 'Illegal' Controversy for NPR
Dean Kevin R. Johnson discussed issues related to the use of the terms "illegal" or "undocumented" to describe immigrants in a segment of the National Public Radio program Tell Me More. The program, hosted by Michel Martin, aired January 7 in the wake of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's use of the term "undocumented immigrants" in a recent Supreme Court hearing, which brought criticism from pundits including syndicated columnist Ruben Navarette, who also participated in the Tell Me More discussion.
"If we refer to people as illegal, inhuman, illegal aliens, wetbacks, Mexicans, Hispanics, people we don't like, devils, it affects how the debate is going to take place, and I think we have to be very careful in the debate," said Dean Johnson, suggesting that terms such as "undocumented immigrant" or "non-citizen" are preferable.
Kevin R. Johnson is Dean and Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o studies at UC Davis School of Law. He is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of immigration law and policy, refugee law, and civil rights.