Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) has introduced a resolution that calls on members of the House to stop referring to “undocumented foreign nationals” as “illegal” immigrants.

His proposal, H.Res. 155, expresses the “necessity” for members of the House to use the term “undocumented” instead of “illegal” when referring to “foreign nationals which are working in the United States without proper documentation.”

Rush’s resolution was proposed shortly after The Associated Press news service said it would no longer use the term “illegal immigrant.” According to the AP, “illegal” should be used to describe an action, not a person.

{mosads}But conservatives criticized the decision as a political one that seemed designed to help those who support an immigration reform bill that would include a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally. The decision was made by the AP just as Congress is starting to consider immigration reform.

On Friday, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said on the House floor that he believes “illegal immigrant” is still the right term, despite conversations he’s had with British officials.

“I asked what words they use, and I was told the appropriate terminology is ‘irregular migrant,’ ” Gohmert said Friday. “I was concerned that sounded too much like some kind of body function. I hated to use that term.

“Anyway, when people immigrate into a country illegally, it’s illegal immigration,” Gohmert added. “And it is a problem.”

Rush’s resolution would be non-binding if it were to pass, but it likely has no chance of going forward in the Republican House. As of Friday, it had no sponsors.