GOP House Wants Library Of Congress To Keep Term 'Illegal Alien'
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) — Republicans on a powerful House panel have narrowly defended a tea party-fueled move to tell the Library of Congress how to label immigrants living in the country illegally.
The GOP move is designed to force the Library of Congress to retain the term "illegal alien" for cataloging and search purposes, reversing the library's plan to replace "illegal alien" with less prejudicial terms like "noncitizens" or "unauthorized immigration."
Appropriations Committee Democrats tried to defend the library's move, which came in response to a petition from the American Library Association, to change the immigration-related search terms. They lost by a 25-24 vote.
Conservatives were angered by the library's move and sought the provision, which was added to legislation funding House and Senate operations and congressional agencies like the library.
Earlier this month, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito spoke out against a plan that would round up and deport people living in the country illegally later this year.
The sweeps reportedly are to be focused on immigrant mothers and children from Central America who already have been told to leave the United States.
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