Last month, an email obtained by Axios revealed that Joe Biden’s administration is encouraging the elimination of the use of the term “alien” or “illegal alien” in favor of “undocumented individual” or “undocumented noncitizen” in all official documents, outreach efforts and other communications, to describe those in the US who are not citizens. It’s a significant development that is welcomed by advocates of the undocumented, since the long-standing use of “alien” is a not-so-subtle dog whistle that has been effectively used to dehumanize not only the undocumented, but actual American citizens.

And it’s also a reflection of the difficult task the Biden administration faces: appearing to be serious on protecting the border while at the same time restoring some humanity to immigration enforcement policy, a challenge Barack Obama’s administration struggled with. Dispensing with the use of the terms “alien” and “illegal” could go a long way to lessening harm to those who are judged as “not American” because of their racial appearance.

But there is little question that it will be an uphill battle in this America.

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But there is little question that it will be an uphill battle in this America.