NHLA CHAIR’S STATEMENT ON ATTEMPTS TO REQUIRE THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS TO USE THE TERM ‘ILLEGAL ALIEN’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2016

NHLA CHAIR’S STATEMENT ON ATTEMPTS TO REQUIRE THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS TO USE THE TERM ‘ILLEGAL ALIEN’

WASHINGTON, DC- In response to the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill in the House of Representatives that would reverse the decision by the Library of Congress to replace the use of term the "illegal alien" with "noncitizens" and "unauthorized immigration," the following statement was released by Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:

"The Library of Congress took the reasonable and long overdue step of retiring an outdated, offensive term. It is astonishing and insulting that Congress is taking the time to micromanage the Library Congress in order to require it to continue to use terminology that is offensive to immigrants and those who are proud of their immigrant heritage. This is a mean-spirited effort to continue to dehumanize people who contribute to the economic, social, and cultural life of this great nation. Regardless of one's views on immigration policy, we should afford each other a basic level of respect. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus and other fair-minded Members of Congress are right to oppose the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill over this offensive provision."

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The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 40 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

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