Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer slurred undocumented immigrants as “illegals,” a term that has been condemned by several prominent journalistic organizations.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) appeared on Face the Nation and he said that he intended to “pass an immigration reform bill.” Schieffer responded by asking “Would that mean finding some path to citizenship for the illegals that are in this country?”

The Associated Press Stylebook instructs journalists not to “use the terms illegal alien, an an illegal or illegals.”

Numerous organizations and commentators have also called on the media not to use the loaded term “illegals.” For instance, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists has called on news media to stop using the word “illegals” as a noun. The NAHJ stated that it was “particularly troubled with the growing trend of the news media to use the word 'illegals' as a noun, shorthand for 'illegal aliens.'” The statement added that “using the word in this way is grammatically incorrect and crosses the line by criminalizing the person, not the action they are purported to have committed.” The Asian American Journalists Association's handbook implores journalists to “avoid” the word “illegals,” calling it “a slur.”