Bill wants to stop U.S. from using the word "alien" for immigrants

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1 Bill wants to stop U.S. from using the word "alien" for immigrants By Cronkite News, adapted by Newsela staff on Word Count 398 Yolanda Araujo holds a poster of a resident alien card during an immigration rally in Los Angeles, California, April 10, Photo: AP/Branimir Kvartuc. BOTTOM: Critics say the government's use of the word "alien" in referring to foreign nationals, as on this Citizenship and Immigration Services form, is demeaning and they want the word removed from federal law. Photo: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration WASHINGTON, D.C. Belen Sisa came to the United States from Argentina, a country in South America. That was 15 years ago.

2 Now Sisa is 21 years old. She is not happy with some words we use to talk about immigrants. Immigrants are people who come to live in America from other countries. The word alien is sometimes used for immigrants. An alien is a person who lives in a country but does not have citizenship there. Many are workers or students. Some left their home countries for a better life. A Lack Of Respect Sisa said calling people aliens is not the way to show respect. The word alien also means a being from outer space. She said use of that word should stop. Sisa may soon get her wish. A new law has been suggested. The law says that this word should be not be used by anyone in government. Joaquin Castro is a lawmaker from Texas. He came up with the law. Eighty-seven lawmakers are behind it. Groups that help immigrants are behind it too. Lawmakers will still have to vote on it.

3 Change The Word, Change How People Think Roger Rocha Jr. is president of one of the largest groups for Latinos in the United States. He said that calling someone an alien puts that person down. He said the law is important to changing how Americans think about people who come to this country to live. He said that most Americans like this idea. There have been laws about hurtful words before. In 2010 and 2012 laws were passed about better ways of describing people who were not well. Almost everyone voted for them to pass. Helping Everyone To Feel Like An American Raul Grijalva is a lawmaker from Arizona. He also supports the law. He said using words like alien makes people feel "less than a full American. Sisa said the word has touched her life. When applying for a job, she was told she was an alien. She was asked if she was even allowed to try for the job. She said she knows there need to be words for all kinds of people. Even so, she hopes that the law will get people to use words that show more respect. It would mean that we re taking a step forward, Sisa said. Lawmaker Castro agreed. Words matter," he said.

4 Quiz 1 Read the section "Change The Word, Change How People Think." What does Roger Rocha Jr. think this law can do? prove that immigrants are not aliens make Americans kinder toward immigrants cause more immigrants to like the United States make it easier for immigrants to come to the United States 2 Why do some people want the United States to stop using the word "alien" for immigrants? Most people think that the word "alien" is a joke. Most people do not know what "alien" means. The word "alien" is too difficult to pronounce. The word "alien" does not seem to be respectful. 3 Read this selection from the section "A Lack Of Respect." Joaquin Castro is a lawmaker from Texas. He came up with the law. Eighty-seven lawmakers are behind it. Groups that help immigrants are behind it too. Which phrase has the SAME meaning as "behind it" in the selection above? against it after it support it question it 4 Read the sentences from the section "Helping Everyone To Feel Like An American." Sisa said the word has touched her life. When applying for a job, she was told she was an alien. What does it mean that the word "touched" Sisa's life? The word ruined Sisa's life. The word affected Sisa's life. The word could not harm Sisa's life. The word showed up without warning.

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6 Answer Key 1 Read the section "Change The Word, Change How People Think." What does Roger Rocha Jr. think this law can do? prove that immigrants are not aliens make Americans kinder toward immigrants cause more immigrants to like the United States make it easier for immigrants to come to the United States 2 Why do some people want the United States to stop using the word "alien" for immigrants? Most people think that the word "alien" is a joke. Most people do not know what "alien" means. The word "alien" is too difficult to pronounce. The word "alien" does not seem to be respectful. 3 Read this selection from the section "A Lack Of Respect." Joaquin Castro is a lawmaker from Texas. He came up with the law. Eighty-seven lawmakers are behind it. Groups that help immigrants are behind it too. Which phrase has the SAME meaning as "behind it" in the selection above? against it after it support it question it 4 Read the sentences from the section "Helping Everyone To Feel Like An American." Sisa said the word has touched her life. When applying for a job, she was told she was an alien. What does it mean that the word "touched" Sisa's life? The word ruined Sisa's life. The word affected Sisa's life. The word could not harm Sisa's life. The word showed up without warning.

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