Biden's reference to 'an illegal' rankles some Democrats who argue he's still preferable to Trump
President Joe Biden is facing disappointment and anger from some allies for calling the suspect in the killing of a Georgia nursing student an “illegal” during his State of the Union speech
By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON
Published - Mar 08, 2024, 04:40 PM ET
Last Updated - Mar 08, 2024, 04:40 PM EST
MIAMI (AP) — President Joe Biden faced disappointment and anger from some allies Friday for calling the suspect in the killing of a Georgia nursing student an “illegal” during his State of the Union speech. Other Democrats backed him as better on immigration issues than former President Donald Trump, his likely rival in November's election.
“By an illegal, that’s right,” Biden responded immediately, before appearing to ask how many people are being killed by “legals.”
Referring to people who arrived or are living in the U.S. illegally as “illegals” was once common but is far less so today, particularly among Democrats who more fully embraced immigrant rights’ issues during Trump’s presidency.
