Source

Immigrant Defense Project

Journalist Style Guide

Access posture

Hosts publicly Original: offline

About

The Immigrant Defense Project (IDP) is a U.S. legal-advocacy organization working at the intersection of the immigration and criminal legal systems — defending the rights of immigrants facing detention and deportation, especially where policing and incarceration co-mingle with immigration enforcement. (This description draws on IDP’s own website rather than an independent encyclopedic source.)

The commons cites IDP’s journalist guidance in two editions, both “Prepared by the Comm/Unity Network”: the first edition — Journalist Style Guide: Covering Immigrants with Convictions (July 2020), released “at a pivotal moment to defend Black lives in the United States” — and the expanded Comm/Unity Style Guide that succeeded it. They are primary sources for the Immigration & Citizenship chapter, behind terms such as undocumented immigrant, illegal immigrant, and illegal alien.

Access

The two editions have different access status. The later Comm/Unity Style Guide remains live on IDP’s site (host posture private-mirror-link-out, linked above), while the 2020 first edition’s original URL now 404s and survives as an archived orphan copy held with attribution. Quotes are held within fair-use limits.

Publication details

Work: Journalist Style Guide
Published: 2020
Format: PDF
Length: 12 pages
Copyright: © Immigrant Defense Project / Comm/Unity Network — © Immigrant Defense Project. Original URL now 404; archived as an orphan copy with attribution.
Original URL: https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/ · offline
Commons access: Hosts publicly
Added: May 2026

Terms citing this source

Alien Avoid

“PROBLEMATIC TERM: “Criminal alien.” “Alien” is an offensive term; and together, these two words risk sensationalizing the issue. ALTERNATIVES: Formerly incarcerated immigrant, Person with a criminal record.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, p. 6
Alien Avoid

“PROBLEMATIC TERM: “Criminal alien.” “Alien” is an offensive term; and together, these two words risk sensationalizing the issue. ALTERNATIVES: Formerly incarcerated immigrant, Person with a criminal record.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, Comm/Unity Style Guide R4
Convict Avoid

““Felon;” “convict;” “ex-con;” “offender” … As health experts have noted, this carries a significant amount of stigma. These terms may paint an overly simplistic picture to readers. … Alternatives: Person with a felony conviction.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, IDP Journalist Style Guide (2020)
Convict Avoid

““Felon;” “convict;” “ex-con;” “offender” … As health experts have noted, this carries a significant amount of stigma. These terms may paint an overly simplistic picture to readers. … Alternatives: Person with a felony conviction.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, Comm/Unity Style Guide R4 (2021)
Felon Avoid

““Felon;” “convict;” “ex-con;” “offender” … As health experts have noted, this carries a significant amount of stigma. These terms may paint an overly simplistic picture to readers. … Alternatives: Person with a felony conviction.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, IDP Journalist Style Guide (2020)
Felon Avoid

““Felon;” “convict;” “ex-con;” “offender” … As health experts have noted, this carries a significant amount of stigma. These terms may paint an overly simplistic picture to readers. … Alternatives: Person with a felony conviction.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, Comm/Unity Style Guide R4 (2021)
Illegal Immigrant Avoid

“PROBLEMATIC TERM: “Illegal immigrant.” This term ignores the complexities of immigration status and has been widely rejected by news organizations over the last several years. ALTERNATIVES: Undocumented immigrant, Immigrant without current status.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, p. 6
Illegal Immigrant Avoid

“PROBLEMATIC TERM: “Illegal immigrant.” This term ignores the complexities of immigration status and has been widely rejected by news organizations over the last several years.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, Comm/Unity Style Guide R4
Offender Avoid

““Felon;” “convict;” “ex-con;” “offender” … As health experts have noted, this carries a significant amount of stigma. These terms may paint an overly simplistic picture to readers. … Alternatives: Person with a felony conviction.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, IDP Journalist Style Guide (2020)
Offender Avoid

““Felon;” “convict;” “ex-con;” “offender” … As health experts have noted, this carries a significant amount of stigma. These terms may paint an overly simplistic picture to readers. … Alternatives: Person with a felony conviction.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, Comm/Unity Style Guide R4 (2021)
Stereotypes Avoid

“A racial double-standard clearly exists in news coverage of high-profile shootings, with shooters who are white men often portrayed as "lone wolves" suffering from mental health issues, while coverage of people of color … frequently perpetuates harmful stereotypes and demonizes the entire community to which the person belongs.”

— Comm/Unity Style Guide, crime-coverage section
Undocumented Immigrant Use

“PROBLEMATIC TERM: “Illegal immigrant.” … ALTERNATIVES: Undocumented immigrant, Immigrant without current status.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, p. 6
Undocumented Immigrant Use

“PROBLEMATIC TERM: “Illegal immigrant.” This term ignores the complexities of immigration status and has been widely rejected by news organizations over the last several years. ALTERNATIVES: Undocumented immigrant, Immigrant without current status.”

— Problematic Terms to Reconsider chart, Comm/Unity Style Guide R4