Based on our listening, during the in-question part of the speech, Biden did not say "illegals," but, rather, he used the uncommon phrase "legals" presumably in reference to killers who are not undocumented. Outlets like CNN, however, reported Biden said, "But how many of the thousands of people being killed by illegals." We should note, seconds earlier, Biden did use the term "illegals" in reference to undocumented immigrants. Biden clearly used the phrase "an illegal" in that instance, and he mispronounced Laken's name. He called for securing the border and providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children.

Source: New York Times March 09, 2024 15:10 UTC