Winston Salem Times

League of American Workers founder Steve Cortes said individuals should not be punished for using the term “illegal aliens” since they have illegally entered the country and “don’t deserve anything other honest descriptions” of those crimes. 

“No American should ever be punished for using correct, precise language, and certainly not young adult American students,” Cortes told Winston Salem Times. “Illegal aliens are unlawful people who choose to break and enter into America.”

“Illegal aliens trespassed into our country, our home, and they don’t deserve anything other honest descriptions of that reality,” said Cortes. 

This was in response to a Central Davidson High School student being given a three day suspension for using the term "illegal alien" while seeking clarification during an English class vocabulary assignment.

Leah McGhee's son, the suspended student, questioned his English teacher about the term's meaning during a vocabulary assignment, prompting another student's offense and subsequent threats. 

"Because of his question, our son was disciplined and given THREE days OUT of school suspension for ‘racism,’" McGhee told the Carolina Journal. "He is devastated and concerned that the racism label on his school record will harm his future goal of receiving a track scholarship. We are concerned that he will fall behind in his classes due to being absent for three consecutive days."

Despite McGhee's assertion that her son's inquiry was innocent, school administrators deemed the term offensive to Hispanic students, raising concerns about disciplinary measures and freedom of expression within educational settings. 

McGhee's family has engaged legal assistance, underscoring broader debates about the handling of sensitive language and disciplinary actions in schools.

As the student and his family navigate the fallout, State Senator Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson|) reached out to school officials, reflecting the ongoing debate of free speech and educational policies amid growing interest in alternative education options like the Opportunity Scholarship program in North Carolina.

Cortes is a political advisor and commentator. He previously traded global currencies and interest rates for 25 years for large international hedge funds. He has been an on-air broadcaster for CNBC, Fox News, and CNN. Cortes founded LAW in 2022 to conduct research and develops proposals on public policies impacting American workers and the economy.

Founded in 2022 by political strategist and commentator Steve Cortes, LAW conducts research and develops proposals on public policies impacting American workers and the economy.