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Style Guide
A full reporter style guide for journalists reporting at the intersection of immigration and the criminal legal system.
Immigrant Defense Project Live Discussion
This is a worksheet you can use to develop messaging for any campaign you’re working on. As you develop messages, keep in mind the needs of your audience. For example, look at the components of the flawed mental templates our audience holds about people who are immigrants. Which components are you disrupting, and with which parts of your messaging? What else does your audience need to hear to help them manage their complex and conflicting feelings?
Style Guide
Problematic Terms to Reconsider
Term
“Felon;” “convict;” “ex-con;” “offender”
Concerns
As health experts have noted, this carries a significant amount of stigma. These terms may paint an overly simplistic picture to readers.
Alternative
Person with a felony conviction
Term
“Criminal;” “convicted criminal”
Concerns
Even former prosecutors have noted that “criminal” is a vague term that covers a vast array of conduct.
Alternative
Person, person with a conviction
Problematic Terms to Reconsider
Term
“Illegal immigrant”
Concerns
Undocumented immigrant, Immigrant without current status
Alternative
This term ignores the complexities of immigration status and has been widely rejected by news organizations over the last several years.
Term
“Felon committing illegal entry or reentry”
Concerns
The 1929 law creates a vicious cycle where people are separated from their families, deported, and when they seek to return home, they are convicted of misdemeanors and felonies. Systematically labeling immigrants as “criminals” and “felons,” through language and law, has been a tactic used by white supremacists going back to the one who originally sponsored this law nearly a century ago.
Alternative
Person seeking to return to the U.S.
Term
“Deported felon”
Concerns
“Felon” is a charged term that focuses on one narrow aspect of a person’s identity and tells readers nothing about the circumstances of the individual’s life. It is worth noting that anti-immigrant organizations have for several decades sought to use this term to build a narrative which criminalizes immigrants.
Alternative
Deported person, Person who was deported after completing a sentence
Term
“Criminal alien”
Concerns
“Alien” is an offensive term; and together, these two words risk sensationalizing the issue.
Alternative
Formerly incarcerated immigrant, Person with a criminal record
Term
“Aggravated felon”
Concerns
“Aggravated felony” is a complicated “term of art” introduced by harsh immigration laws. The term has little connection with its colloquial meaning and includes a vast range of conduct.
Alternative
Formerly incarcerated immigrant, Person with a criminal record, or, Person convicted/ charged with a crime considered an ‘aggravated felony’ under immigration law
Problematic Terms to Reconsider
Term
Sweeping references to “rapists, murderers, and sex offenders”
Concerns
This language has been used to fuel stereotypes and demonize immigrants and people of color.
Alternative
Specific descriptions of facts and circumstances.
Term
“Violent offenders”
Concerns
This simple term masks the complexity of criminal law; with many crimes which may sound ‘violent’ lacking any element of harm and vice-versa. It is also important to consider how much time has passed since the person received or completed the sentence.
Alternative
Consider whether it is necessary and relevant to mention the conviction. If you determine it is necessary to cover a person’s record, the following may help convey a fuller picture of the person’s life: • Include not only the conviction, but the life circumstances surrounding it and the time. • Allow space to describe how the individual’s life may have since changed.
Term
“Most detained immigrants are non-criminals and thus should be released”
Concerns
Individuals in detention who do have contact with the criminal legal system - a system with profound racial disparities - have already completed their sentence or been deemed eligible for release. How long is it reasonable to apply the “criminal” label? In light of the threat posed by the pandemic, should a person’s safety behind bars rely on whether they have received the “criminal” label?
Alternative
Coverage could focus on the medical vulnerability of individuals; the authority ICE has to quickly release individuals; family and community connections. [Note: At the same time, advocates are supporting calls to release all people from jails and prisons. Incarcerated people’s lives are equally at risk regardless what agency’s custody they are in.]
In this time of crisis, we’re all learning from each other as we fight to free people who are locked up. One thing that we’ve learned is that since the right-wing has spent decades building a messaging infrastructure, it’s easy for all of us to unintentionally slip into frames that ultimately do more harm than good. In the spirit of sharing, here are few quick tips for inclusive framing. We’d love to hear what you think!
Problematic Terms to Reconsider
Term
“Illegal immigrant”
Concerns
Undocumented immigrant, Immigrant without current status
Alternative
This term ignores the complexities of immigration status and has been widely rejected by news organizations over the last several years.
Term
“Felon committing illegal entry or reentry”
Concerns
The 1929 law creates a vicious cycle where people are separated from their families, deported, and when they seek to return home, they are convicted of misdemeanors and felonies. Systematically labeling immigrants as “criminals” and “felons,” through language and law, has been a tactic used by white supremacists going back to the one who originally sponsored this law nearly a century ago.
Alternative
Person seeking to return to the U.S.
Term
“Deported felon”
Concerns
“Felon” is a charged term that focuses on one narrow aspect of a person’s identity and tells readers nothing about the circumstances of the individual’s life. It is worth noting that anti-immigrant organizations have for several decades sought to use this term to build a narrative which criminalizes immigrants.
Alternative
Deported person, Person who was deported after completing a sentence
Term
“Criminal alien”
Concerns
“Alien” is an offensive term; and together, these two words risk sensationalizing the issue.
Alternative
Formerly incarcerated immigrant, Person with a criminal record
Term
“Aggravated felon”
Concerns
“Aggravated felony” is a complicated “term of art” introduced by harsh immigration laws. The term has little connection with its colloquial meaning and includes a vast range of conduct.
Alternative
Formerly incarcerated immigrant, Person with a criminal record, or, Person convicted/ charged with a crime considered an ‘aggravated felony’ under immigration law
Problematic Terms to Reconsider
Term
“Illegal immigrant”
Concerns
Undocumented immigrant, Immigrant without current status
Alternative
This term ignores the complexities of immigration status and has been widely rejected by news organizations over the last several years.
Term
“Felon committing illegal entry or reentry”
Concerns
The 1929 law creates a vicious cycle where people are separated from their families, deported, and when they seek to return home, they are convicted of misdemeanors and felonies. Systematically labeling immigrants as “criminals” and “felons,” through language and law, has been a tactic used by white supremacists going back to the one who originally sponsored this law nearly a century ago.
Alternative
Person seeking to return to the U.S.
Term
“Deported felon”
Concerns
“Felon” is a charged term that focuses on one narrow aspect of a person’s identity and tells readers nothing about the circumstances of the individual’s life. It is worth noting that anti-immigrant organizations have for several decades sought to use this term to build a narrative which criminalizes immigrants.
Alternative
Deported person, Person who was deported after completing a sentence
Term
“Criminal alien”
Concerns
“Alien” is an offensive term; and together, these two words risk sensationalizing the issue.
Alternative
Formerly incarcerated immigrant, Person with a criminal record
Term
“Aggravated felon”
Concerns
“Aggravated felony” is a complicated “term of art” introduced by harsh immigration laws. The term has little connection with its colloquial meaning and includes a vast range of conduct.
Alternative
Formerly incarcerated immigrant, Person with a criminal record, or, Person convicted/ charged with a crime considered an ‘aggravated felony’ under immigration law
