In an interview with MSNBC on Saturday, President Joe Biden expressed regret for using the term "illegal" during his State of the Union address to describe the suspected killer of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student. Biden acknowledged that he should have used the term "undocumented" instead, as frustration mounted within his own party for the use of such language.

The term "illegal" to describe individuals who arrived or are living in the U.S. without proper documentation was once commonly used but has now fallen out of favor, particularly among Democrats who have focused on immigrant rights' issues during former President Donald Trump's tenure.

The tragic death of Laken Riley, who was allegedly murdered by an immigrant from Venezuela who entered the U.S. illegally, has become a rallying cry for Republicans. They argue that it exemplifies the Biden administration's perceived mishandling of the U.S.-Mexico border amid a surge of immigrants entering the country.

While President Biden was meeting with small business owners and holding a campaign rally in Atlanta, his all-but-certain 2024 rival Donald Trump took the opportunity to blame Biden for Riley's death at a rally attended by the victim's family in Rome, Georgia. Trump intended to criticize Biden not only for his handling of the border but also for mispronouncing Riley's name during the State of the Union address.

During his address, Biden used the term "illegal" following an exchange with U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a staunch Trump ally, who shouted at him to say Riley's name and emphasized that she was killed "by an illegal." Responding to Greene, Biden agreed by saying, "By an illegal, that's right," and went on to question the number of deaths caused by people who are in the country legally.

In his interview with MSNBC, Biden clarified that his language was a response to Trump's derogatory comments about immigrants, emphasizing his commitment to treating all individuals with respect. However, this expression of regret came as a shift from his initial response the day before, where he hesitated to acknowledge any regret.

The Biden campaign's senior adviser, Chris LaCivita, criticized Biden for apologizing for his choice of language instead of expressing regret to Riley's family. LaCivita described Biden's response as "tone deaf" and highlighted the significant differences in approach between the two candidates on the issue of border control.

Biden's regret over the term "illegal" reflects the ongoing debate over appropriate language to describe individuals without proper documentation and the broader political divisions over immigration policies. As the 2024 presidential race looms, it remains to be seen how these differing approaches will shape public opinion and influence voter sentiment.

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