{"id":2192485,"date":"2024-03-04T18:50:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T23:50:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-lawmaker-wants-to-remove-the-dehumanizing-description-of-alien-from-state-code\/"},"modified":"2024-03-04T18:52:04","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T23:52:04","slug":"virginia-lawmaker-wants-to-remove-the-dehumanizing-description-of-alien-from-state-code","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/virginia-lawmaker-wants-to-remove-the-dehumanizing-description-of-alien-from-state-code\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia lawmaker seeks to eliminate &#8216;dehumanizing&#8217; term &#8216;alien&#8217; from state code"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvirginia-lawmaker-wants-to-remove-the-dehumanizing-description-of-alien-from-state-code%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2192485&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Effort Underway in\u2063 Virginia General Assembly to Remove Term &#8220;Alien&#8221; \u200cfrom State Code<\/h2>\n<p>An important and \u2064symbolic step \u200bis being taken in \u200cthe\u2064 Virginia General Assembly \u200cto eliminate the term &#8220;alien&#8221;\u2063 from the state code when referring to noncitizens. Democratic \u200dVirginia Del. Alfonso Lopez\u200d believes that this \u2064change is necessary to restore\u2062 humanity and combat years of demonization.\u200c He emphasizes that the term is outdated and no longer reflects the attitudes of most Virginians \u2062today.<\/p>\n<p>Del. Lopez, who considers the\u200b term antiquated, has taken\u2064 to social media to explain the new legislation. In a video, he discusses another bill he\u200b is working on, HB\u200d 962, which aims to redefine the\u200b term &#8220;illegal immigrant&#8221; in\u200b the \u2064Virginia code. He argues that the term &#8220;alien,&#8221; whether used for documented or undocumented immigrants, \u200bis dehumanizing and has no\u200d place in our daily vocabulary or the Virginia code.<\/p>\n<p>Del. Alfonso L\u00f3pez\u200d has sponsored two bills this legislative session. HB 972 deals\u2063 with \u2063Virginia court proceedings involving the\u2063 immigration status of defendants,\u200b while HB 962 involves\u200b redefining the term &#8220;alien&#8221; in the\u200c Virginia Code.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Here is Del. Alfonso L\u00f3pez speaking about two\u200b of his \u2064bills he\u2063 has sponsored this legislative\u2064 session!<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>HB 972<\/strong> deals with Virginia court proceedings involving the immigration status of defendants<\/li>\n<li><strong>HB 962<\/strong> involves redefining the\u200d term &#8220;alien&#8221; in the Virginia Code<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LatinoCaucusVA\/status\/1361446826826829312\">Click here<\/a> to watch the video.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The\u200d HB 962 bill proposes to remove the term &#8220;alien&#8221; from the Code of Virginia when referring to individuals who are not citizens\u200c or nationals of the United\u200b States. It suggests replacing the term with synonymous language throughout the \u2062code.<\/p>\n<p>Del. Lopez believes that laws should reflect the\u200b values of society, and removing the term\u200b &#8220;illegal alien&#8221; is an important step in fostering \u200can inclusive Commonwealth. He argues that the term has been used as a slur against immigrant and Latino communities and legitimizes that slur as long\u200b as it \u200bremains in \u2064the code. He \u200cadvocates for replacing &#8220;alien&#8221; with language such as &#8220;individual who \u2063is not a citizen \u200cor national of the\u2064 United\u200b States.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The bill has already \u200dpassed the Virginia House and is currently being reviewed in the Virginia Senate.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What\u200d message\u200b does the removal of the \u200bterm\u2062 &#8220;alien&#8221; from the state code send about Virginia&#8217;s commitment to inclusivity and fairness for \u200ball individuals, regardless\u200c of their citizenship status<\/h2>\n<p><span>  .<\/p>\n<p>The term &#8220;alien&#8221; has long \u2063been used in legal and \u2062administrative \u2063contexts to describe individuals who are not citizens of a particular country. However, many\u2062 believe\u2062 that this term carries negative connotations and\u2063 can contribute to the stigmatization and marginalization of\u200c noncitizens.<\/p>\n<p>Del. Alfonso Lopez,\u2064 a \u200dDemocrat representing Virginia, \u200chas introduced legislation in the state&#8217;s General Assembly \u2063to\u2063 remove the term &#8220;alien&#8221; from the state code when referring to noncitizens. This effort is part of a broader \u200bpush to promote inclusivity and fairness for all individuals, regardless of their\u200d citizenship status.<\/p>\n<p>Lopez\u200c argues that\u2062 the \u2062term &#8220;alien&#8221; is outdated and no longer reflects the attitudes and values of\u200b most Virginians\u2062 today. He believes that\u2062 it is important to \u200crecognize the inherent\u200b dignity and \u200chumanity of \u200call\u2063 individuals,\u200c regardless of their immigration status.<\/p>\n<p>By removing the term \u200c&#8221;alien&#8221; from the state code,\u2064 Lopez \u2062hopes to\u200d combat years of demonization and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/la-times-columnist-faces-blowback-after-posting-claims-about-trumpites-next-door\/\" title=\"LA Times Columnist Faces Blowback After Posting Claims About \u2018Trumpites Next Door\u2019\">negative stereotypes<\/a> \u2062associated\u2062 with noncitizens. \u200dThis change, while symbolic, sends a powerful message that Virginia is \u2062committed\u2063 to creating a more inclusive and welcoming environment\u2062 for\u2062 all residents.<\/p>\n<p>In recent years, there has \u200cbeen a growing acknowledgment\u2062 of the need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jim-jordan-unveils-budget-wishlist-to-fight-weaponized-federal-agencies\/\" title=\"Jim Jordan reveals budget priorities to combat \"weaponized\" federal agencies.\">address immigration policies<\/a> in a fair and humane manner. The term\u2063 &#8220;alien&#8221; not\u200d only\u200c fails\u2064 to reflect this evolving understanding but also perpetuates an us-versus-them mentality that \u200cgoes against the principles of equality and justice.<\/p>\n<p>It is worth noting \u200bthat \u200cseveral other states, including California and \u200cNew York, \u200chave already eliminated the use \u200dof the term\u200c &#8220;alien&#8221; in their official documents and legislation. Virginia, \u2062by following their\u200b example, would join a growing\u2064 movement towards more\u200b inclusive and respectful language\u2062 in the realm \u200dof\u2064 immigration.<\/p>\n<p>However, the proposed change is not without \u2062its critics. Some argue that \u200cremoving \u200bthe term &#8220;alien&#8221; could have legal \u2062and administrative implications,\u200c as \u2062it is a well-established term in both federal and state law. They fear that eliminating\u2062 this term\u200b could lead to confusion\u200c and hinder the\u2063 enforcement of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-department-of-friendship-cant-fix-the-sexual-revolutions-lonely-fallout\/\" title=\"Friendship Department can't mend the loneliness caused by the Sexual Revolution.\">immigration\u200b policies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless,\u2064 it is crucial to recognize the importance of language in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vivek-ramaswamy-responds-to-backlash-over-his-answer-on-if-9-11-was-an-inside-job\/\" title=\"Vivek Ramaswamy addresses criticism on 9\/11 'Inside Job' stance.\">shaping public \u200dperception<\/a> \u2063and attitudes\u200d towards\u200d noncitizens. Removing the term &#8220;alien&#8221; from the state code is a step towards creating a more\u2062 compassionate and \u2063understanding society that values the contributions \u200band experiences of all individuals, regardless of their origin.<\/p>\n<p>As the \u200bVirginia General\u200c Assembly considers this legislation, it is important for lawmakers to carefully weigh the potential consequences and benefits of this change. By removing\u2062 the term &#8220;alien,&#8221; Virginia \u2064has the opportunity to lead by example and demonstrate its commitment to inclusivity and equality for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An effort is being made in Virginia&#8217;s General Assembly to remove the term &#8220;alien&#8221; from the state code when referring to noncitizens. Democratic Virginia Del. Alfonso Lopez believes this change is crucial in restoring humanity and combating years of demonization. The term is outdated and reflects prejudices that most Virginians no longer hold<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2678,"featured_media":2192486,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/iStock-871336336-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2192485","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/iStock-871336336-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2192485","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2678"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2192485"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2192485\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2192486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2192485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2192485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2192485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}