Florida Governor Ron DeSantis implemented new Trump administration terminology as he corrected a journalist asking him about “undocumented immigrants.”

The Republican leader instructed a reporter at a press conference Thursday at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office that it isn’t just semantics when referring to those who have violated U.S. law to enter the country illegally. when asked about the “undocumented immigrants,” DeSantis took a clear stand against any effort to “water down” the terminology as he explained the key differences.

“Florida is home to hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants,” the reporter began.

TODAY: Governor Ron DeSantis schools a reporter on using ‘undocumented immigrants’

Reporter: FL is home to 100,000s of undocumented immigrants…@GovRonDeSantis: “They’re illegal aliens. That’s the statutory term. […] If I get in my car and forget my wallet, I don’t have my… pic.twitter.com/dSdid42pNZ

— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) January 23, 2025

“The federal government has made clear that the statutory term is not undocumented immigrants; they’re illegal aliens. That’s the statutory term and that’s what it is,” DeSantis interjected.

“Undocumented, it’s like if I get in my car and I forget my wallet. Okay, I don’t have my document, my driver’s license on me. But I still have a right to drive. I just made a mistake,” the governor elaborated.

“This is intentional to come in illegally, and it’s not just the question of missing a document. It’s a question of, you know, you violated the laws that were very clear, and knowingly, and with the help of the cartels in many cases,” DeSantis added.

The reporter rephrased his question, this time using the correct words, but adding, “Or whatever you want to call it.”

The term “undocumented noncitizen” was scrubbed by the Trump administration’s Department of Homeland Security.

“It is not the role of the Department or its components to substitute alternative politically charged terminology in our official documents for terminology used by Congress in statutes signed by the President of the United States,” Acting DHS Secretary Benjamine Huffman wrote in a memo, adding that he revoked “all memos, guidance, and any other directives that direct personnel to avoid using language included in immigration law.”

Terms like “alien” were replaced with more politically correct terminology like “noncitizen” and “assimilation” was referred to as “integration” under President Joe BIden’s administration.

Social media users applauded DeSantis for taking a stand against the immigration word games.

DeSantis cuts through the BS in an articulate fashion, as usual.

— akoi (@akoiunoiu) January 24, 2025

This is awesome!

— MastersPlan1 (@RusticEdging) January 23, 2025

“Or whatever you want to call it.” – Journalist Who Got Owned

— Tiberious Spock (@tiberious_spock) January 23, 2025

That was amazing by DeSantis

— Cash Loren (@CashLorenShow) January 23, 2025

Governor DeSantis dropping truth bombs again!

Calling out the media for twisting language and sticking to the legal term “illegal aliens” is exactly the kind of no-nonsense leadership our country needs more of.

Love to see it!

Keep ’em coming!

— The Honor Guard (@The_Honor_Guard) January 23, 2025

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Frieda Powers

Senior Staff Writer
Frieda@bizpacreview.com

Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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