Nancy Pelosi Chides Reporter for Using Term 'Illegal Aliens'

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi took issue with the term “illegal aliens” during a Wednesday press conference.

Reacting to a question from a reporter about whether President Obama’s planned executive actions should also deal with Iraqis living illegally in the United States, Pelosi corrected the reporter who used the term “illegal aliens.”

“Are you referring to undocumented people who are in the United States?” Pelosi questioned.

“Illegal aliens, yes ma’am,” the reporter responded.

“Undocumented people, OK,” Pelosi said again.

Advocates have pushed back in recent years against the term “illegal alien,” despite its common use in law enforcement — particularly by immigration enforcement agencies like Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.