Are they illegal immigrants or undocumented students? Both

Immigration is such a hot-button issue that even the words used to write about the topic get debated.

"Illegal" and "undocumented" are two of the terms that are often questioned. Reader R.J. Johnson of North Hollywood found them both in an Aug. 24 article about a rally in support of the California Dream Act, which would allow college students who are illegal immigrants to qualify for public financial aid.

"In the lead-in to Teresa Watanabe's article, the words used are 'the undocumented.' But in the actual article, Watanabe uses the phrase 'illegal immigrants,'" Johnson wrote.

"L.A. Times, which is it?"

Well, it doesn't have to be one or the other.

The Times' Style and Usage Guide advocates the use of "illegal immigrants" when referring to "citizens of foreign countries who have come to the country with no passport, visa or other document to show that they are entitled to visit, work or live in the United States."

It continues: "The term 'undocumented immigrant' is acceptable as a synonym for 'illegal immigrant' under certain conditions, such as when a form of the word 'illegal' already appears in a sentence."

And that's just how Watanabe used the terms in her opening paragraph:

Scores of students, teachers and other advocates for illegal immigrants are launching rallies, phone drives and petition campaigns this week for what they see as their best hope to win access to public financial aid for undocumented college students.

Other widely used stylebooks agree with the usage. The Associated Press stylebook, which is taught in journalism schools and used across the news industry, has a similar entry. The New York Times stylebook's ruling is more limited, advocating the use of "illegal immigrant" but calling "undocumented" a euphemism.

Reader Sue Martin thought both terms were wrong. She wrote: "Regarding correct English, you refer to these students as illegal 'immigrants.' The correct term is 'aliens.' Writers for the L.A. Times continuously make this mistake."

But the L.A. Times' stylebook doesn’t consider it a mistake. It advises against using the term "alien" unless it's in a direct quote.

The New York Times' stylebook is more explicit. It says that "alien," while technically correct, "often conveys overtones of menace or strangeness."

The L.A. Times' first stylebook, in 1979, did advocate the use of "illegal aliens," calling it "the simplest term." However, by 1995, the ruling had changed to "illegal immigrant."

Assistant Managing Editor Henry Fuhrmann, who leads the newsroom's style committee, said that "illegal immigrant" is "the preferred neutral, unbiased term that will work in almost all uses."

"We do think through these things at length," Fuhrmann said. "We tend to reflect what we're hearing from our sources and our readers."

--Deirdre Edgar

Photo: Students rally in downtown Los Angeles on Aug. 23 in support of AB 131, the California Dream Act. Credit: Genero Molina / Los Angeles Times

 

Comments

[Michael N]

Undocumented student makes no sense at all. The entire process of education is mostly documentation. Unfortunately, journalistic integrity is also becoming an oxymoron.

[JRG]

How about criminal?

[Erika]

California, you are so backwards, I thought we were broke?

You don't pay taxes = You don't get the benefits, it's that simple.

I wish everyone luck in pursuing their legal status and/or citizenship though. We could use more brilliant minds in the US =)

[michael]

"Undocumented" is deceptive because it implies that the only problem with illegal immigrants is a lack of paperwork. Is a car thief an "undocumented owner?" This misuse of language is common. The "pro-life" movement is actually an anti-abortion movement and the"pro-choice" movement is actually a pr0-abortion rights movement. Modern American politics and marketing are full of deception. The salient aspect of illegal immigrants is that they are here illegally, not that they lack paperwork.

In order for democracy and free markets to function effectively, voters and consumers must have access to accurate information about products and services and about candidates and their positions. When marketers and politicians routinely lie, distort, spin, and hide the truth, both democracy and the free market are undermined.

[Delaware Bob]

Education is a human right? I agree. Go back to your own country for it.

[JOJO]

Neither Illegal immigrant or undocumented immigrant is correct. The correct term is illegal alien. It always has been illegal alien. But illegal alien supporters wanted to invent a term that sounded more friendly. They don't belong here and real American citizens don't want them here and we shouldn't spend a dime on them. The illegal alien supporters are mostly anchor babies and their descendents. Mexicans.

[Shuya Ohno]

Immigration offenses are typically civil offenses, not criminal ones. The immigration system in our country has been neglected for too long and is a bureaucratic nightmare. A person could be legally in the country one day, lose status and become undocumented or "illegal," then get his or status adjusted or fixed and be "legal" again, for no other reason than clerical or administrative errors or inefficiencies. A person may break no law and still end up trapped without documents because of the obsolete immigration system. This is why the term "illegal immigrant," doesn't really capture or adequately describe a person's immigration status.

In our culture today, the term "illegal" naturally connotes law-breaking, allowing the intellectual lazy and the xenophobic to call all immigrants lacking status, criminals. This is simply wrong - factually and morally.

[Red Rob Reb]

So if I go into a bank with a gun, am I making an undocumented withdrawal?

[michael]

Shuya,

The vast majority of illegal immigrants aren't here illegally due to bureaucratic mistakes. In other words, the problem is not that they are "undocumented." The problem is that they intentionally and knowingly entered the country illegally, or their parents did. And to JoJo, "alien" also is deceptive language in this context. The problem with illegal immigrants isn't that they are "alien," it's that they immigrated illegally, which is why "illegal immigrants" is the most accurate term.

By the way, constantly painting people who want our immigration laws enforced as racist or xenophobic is both wrong and counterproductive. Many of us welcome and encourage legal immigration. The mother of my son and my daughter's boyfriend both are legal immigrants. My grandchild, as best as we can tell, has the following in his background: Spanish, Ukrainian, Filipino, Irish, Chinese.

[kmaudw]

Yes, they are both. And by Federal law IT IS ILLEGAL TO IDENTIFY SPECIAL FUNDS FOR THEM! And I wish the federal courts would quit playing their idiotic games and make their rulings so this issue gets stopped immediately.

[youareuniquelikeeveryoneelse]

Considering Los Angeles Times' poor proofing and general quality, I would go with New York Times' standards. Perhaps next time I buy LAT from a vending machine, I will pick up an extra "undocumented" copy for myself

[Robin Kedroske]

slow news day??--this is an important/volitile issue & that all this reporter cares about, grammar???

sad...immigration911.org

[michael]

The issue isn't grammar. The issue is misusing language for propaganda purposes. Why do you think all the repubnut candidates for president suddenly started calling rich people "job creators?" People who use the term "illegal alien" want to portray immigrants as somehow strange, different, and unlike us, when in fact they are just people. Those who use the term "undocumented immigrant" want to gloss over the fact that they are here illegally by portraying the issue as a paperwork problem. This corruption of public discourse is not trivial.

[Jagexxx]

They are Anti-American. Or else they would respect this country, it's laws, and it's people.

[John Reece]

I prefer "immigration scofflaw" as it's perfectly accurate and appropriately prejudicial. Immigration, after all, is just one of many permit systems where those who can't qualify or find the process too tedious or the restrictions attached to the permit too inconvenient give the finger to the system and do whatever they want. Just like abalone poachers with scuba gear, illegal campers in Yosemite, fraudulent handicapped parking permit users, etc. Such people are commonly described as scofflaws.

[SEIU_is_ACORN]

The correct term would be invader

[Amalgamate]

michael-good analysis on illegals, but you got the abortions stuff wrong-pro life is actually pro "i want to control a woman's body for 9 months" and pro choice is actually pro "woman gets control of her body for her entire life"=otherwise nice job!

[Bullfighter]

The use of the words "undocumented" or "illegal" is not really accurate as Latin Americans are conducting a war against the US American people. They wish to destroy the American way of life as we know it by making the Latino, a race above all others in the US. LA RAZA, the master race, is organized to minimize all other races in the US.

The real term to be used for these people is "foreign invader". That is the term they would use if US Americans forced their way into Latin American countries. It is only fair to treat them as they have treated us Americans.

YANKEE GO HOME! Does that ring a bell?

[Ali]

The issue isn't grammar. The issue is misusing language for propaganda purposes. Why do you think all the repubnut candidates for president suddenly started calling rich people "job creators?" People who use the term "illegal alien" want to portray immigrants as somehow strange, different, and unlike us, when in fact they are just people. Those who use the term "undocumented immigrant" want to gloss over the fact that they are here illegally by portraying the issue as a paperwork problem. This corruption of public discourse is not trivial.

Posted by: michael
-----------
Michael, "alien" is the term USCIS itself uses because that's what people who are not citizens of this country are--aliens. Foreigners who are here legally, be it with green cards or non immigrants visas, are aliens. Those who are here without (or who have overstayed) are illegal aliens.
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5600b9f6b2899b1697849110543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=6b7389eef3d4b010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD&searchQuery=alien&radioSearch=entireSite&submit.x=38&submit.y=11

[Cheyenne]

There is no such thing as an "undocumented immigrant".
Immigration is a legal process through which foreign nationals fill out documentation, pass criminal background checks and physical exams, and are then allowed to "immigrate". Illegal aliens have not "immigrated".
Therefore this debate over semantics is moot.
If you are present illegally in the United States right now, you are an illegal alien, nothing else.
As to the posters who claim illegal aliens are not "criminals", every single illegal alien who is using, or has ever used a (fraudulent) social security number has committed a felony crime, and that includes on an I-9. It is a crime to not leave the USA when you are ordered deported. It is a felony crime to re-enter the USA illegally after deportation. It is a crime to lie about your legal status. Anyone want to take a guess as to how many illegal alien students have been lying about their legal status since day one? And still do, every single day.
Our state legislature needs a good clearing out. The Latino caucus has betrayed Californians one too many times. Get the bums out!

[Bonnie]

We should not even be having this discussion at all. Our laws are being broken, plain and simple. These people should not be here and the fact that this bill (amongst way too many others) is even on the table is a travesty. The lunatic liberal base in CA has been and continues to be its demise. Why are we 48th in education in the U.S.? Why is our state in the worst financial shape in its history? Because we aid and abet illegals and continue to throw down the Welcome mat, even as other states have gotten smart and started shutting off the flow of honey and money. THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION IS ABSURD AND SHOULD NOT EVEN BE OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. What other country of the world has fed, clothed, medicated, educated, and (as appropriate) incarcerated the thieves who break in, demand money, housing, welfare, and services that citizens pay for? It doesn't matter if their parents are the criminals-- they cannot be rewarded. As for the commonly played Racism card-- that's pathetic and the only thing that liberal pro-illegals have to scream because their arguments are utterly baseless and anti-American.

[Don]

My issue with your response is that even though your style guide says it's okay, the expression "illegal alien" makes no grammatical sense. A person is not legal or illegal, only that person's actions can be modified by that adjective. If a person loses his or her driver's license but continues to drive, that person isn't an "illegal driver," the person is driving illegally.

So why call a human being who immigrates illegally an "illegal alien?" For the same racist reasons we called Vietnamese humans "Gooks," Japanese humans "Japs," and German humans "Krauts." It's easy to kill or not care about that which isn't human. Bring in the humanity of people and they're not as easy to kill in war or rip apart families like yours and mine because they have broken laws.

I am against illegal immigration. I would like to see it stopped. I am glad to see that the total number of people who have entered the U.S. illegally has increased under the current administration. I am saddened that we must resort to dehumanizing a group of people and institutionalizing that action's inherent racism rather than condemning and moving against the actions of those who break the law.

[Frank Robles]

Illegal Alien is the proper softer term and Illegal Criminal is the true and correct term. Regardless of what you call them they are bankrupting our country.

[Chakotay2]

IMO, it is neither "illegal immigrant" nor "undocumented"; it is "illegal alien". Outside of a sci-fi movie, "alien" simply means a person who is in a country not his/her own; "illegal" is self-explanatory. Someone who is here illegally is an illegal alien, period, in spite of the liberal media's politically correct attempts to water down and neutralize the language of those who don't agree with their liberal views. An immigrant is to an illegal alien as an invited house guest is to a burglar or home invader.

[Richard]

It is the hope of the times to confuse people into group immigrants
who are people that are here LEGALLY with the so-called undocumented, who
are not. The correct legal term is Illegal Alien. Undocumented infers that
they are legally here its just the papers are "missing" or that they have a legal
right to be here, but are not being tracked. Neither is the case.

What they may called are pawns. The left uses the illegal aliens to justify
the "need" for the "services" provided by tax payer funded union labor.
The right uses them to drive down the costs of their labor and provide a
market for certain goods. The Catholic church uses them to put butts in
the seats and pay tithes.

The problem is, the services are paid for by tax payers and most illegal aliens
are poor and do not pay in enough to cover the costs of the services they
consume, especially when those providing the costs are grossly over compensated.

[Art S.]

"Illegal immigrant" is the an unbiased term? Of course it is biased, for it, along with "undocumented immigrant", conveys a tone of coddling, victimhood, and liberal bias.
Call things by what they are: USCIS, who is the authority on the subject, calls them "Illegal Aliens", so that is the correct term to use, not what whatever our fancy is.

[Joe Bagadonuts]

Are squatters at a vacant house undocumented homeowners?

[prolgazinternet]

Of course, I hate them all: the legal poor, the documented elderly, all the immigrants, the people of color, the dissenters. I am a real patriot.

[Adam Vant]

"The L.A. Times' first stylebook, in 1979, did advocate the use of 'illegal aliens,' calling it "the simplest term." However, by 1995, the ruling had changed to 'illegal immigrant.' ... Assistant Managing Editor Henry Fuhrmann, who leads the newsroom's style committee, said that 'illegal immigrant' is 'the preferred neutral, unbiased term that will work in almost all uses.'"

So what you're saying is that "illegal alien" conveyed the meaning in its simplest terms, but you weasels changed it to a euphemism which means the same thing, but in a weaselly way. How typical of you weasels.

[Tustin Resident]

I noticed that some of the "requirements" were redacted in the last version of this such that established education and presence in the california school system is no longer required?

I think the concept of helping these children is noble and kind - generous to a fault - the problem is

fact - we cannot afford our own school system as it stands - how can we in good faith give out monies to unfortunates who are here illegaly when we have our own CITIZENS in need?

fact - California is darn near insolvent - again why are we giving more money away when we cannot pay our bills on time - remember those IOU's last tax season?

This is the wrong time for largess.....I am very sorry but I cannot support this at all at this time

[2bits]

Illegals are illegals and should be jailed for breaking our laws. Then deported ASAP to southern Mexico. Let's make it harder for them to come back!

[Frank]

The best comments is from @SEIU_is_ACORN. Invader...lmao..

Makes me laugh since it is Los Angeles after all. But I guess we can re-write history and call it Angels town.

[Michael P]

I am seeing more debate as to what to call the millions of invaders from across the border. Apparently "ILLEGAL ALIEN" is too harsh or perhaps too descriptive but the liberal PC crowd want them to be called something "nice" like "undocumented worker".
It was just revealed just this week that Illegals are collecting big bucks from the IRS to the tune of $4 billion per year. The IRS doesn't require the "UNDOCUMENTED" to have Social Security numbers like the rest of us so not only are the children of illegals, the "Anchor Babies", bankrupting our "social safety net", they are collecting $1000 per child from the IRS. Maybe we should refer to them as "Undocumented Tax Recipients" because they make more off their tax return then their jobs.
There is one other aspect that rears its ugly head thru all of this insanity. The Democrat Party wants these people, all 20 million of them, given legal status so they can vote. Not that they don't vote already, but this would make them legit! Perhaps we should refer to them as "UNDOCUMENTED DEMOCRATS"! It would be more accurate and more in line with what the Democrats are TRYING TO RAM THROUGH. At a time when bankrupt liberal ideas are being shown to be destroying the country, these cynical socialist clowns want to bring 20 million non-english speaking, non-citizens into our voter rolls and our welfare rolls.
The Democrats would destroy this country with welfare and disenfranchisement and bankrupt our institutions with the Anchor babies just to hold onto power.
If they do these "UNDOCUMENTED DEMOCRATS" will give themselves as much government money as they can take along with the implied threat of the coming ATZLAN WAR (The killing of the National Guardsmen will be noted as the first battle). We will enter a "Dark Age" in American politics where non citizens will elect our leaders and they wont be working in our best interests. By not standing up now and clearing the voter rolls we will get what we deserve.

[Kevin]

Let's see. A: If they are immigrants and if they are here illegally--do the math and that makes them illegal immigrants. B: Sure they could also be students without documents, making them undocumented students. So, pick A or B or both and that is your answer. It's not rocket science but, apparently, it's politics.

[Ray McConn]

I have a problem with someone who knowingly participates in acquiring fraudulent State paperwork. I do NOT have a problem with a kid, who is as American as any of us, that was brought in by the crime of THEIR parent(s).
What legal crime has any of your parents committed that YOU had to pay for the rest of your life? Bankruptcy is not even transferrable to offspring who enjoyed the benefits of such.
Good, culturally American kids should be able to stay. The crooks and such can wear bracelets on a free one-way bus ride, my compliments.
Another thing, being a person of privilege, it CONSTANTLY disgusts me how my 'double-standard' Republican business-owner friends LOVE their timid, cheap labor during the good times, then, they want to ship 'em out when times are bad.
I can fix 'bleeding' immigration in a heartbeat: Make 'E-Verify' MANDATORY. Businesses have no interest in complying voluntarily. Force them! No clandestine job opportunities, means no migrants.
The various racist commentators above this comment sure can't figure that out. Stalin and Hitler's 'ethnic resettlement' atrocities makes more sense to them.

All these 'PC' terminology concerns are for the birds. It distracts us from the real issues.

[mario ruiz]

Michael, so let me see if I understand your position. You claim, "Many of us welcome and encourage legal immigration. The mother of my son and my daughter's boyfriend both are legal immigrants. My grandchild, as best as we can tell, has the following in his background: Spanish, Ukrainian, Filipino, Irish, Chinese." So, all's well as long as there is no Latino background, right? Very generous of you! I'm sure that all Spanish, Ukranian, Filipino, and Chinese nationals will be grateful.

[mario ruiz]

It is a sign of racial prejudice that a lot of the writers to this board assume that all illegal aliens are Mexicans. Comments such as send back to southern Mexico denote profound ignorance and prejudice.

[jon]

"undocumented". They do have documents. The documents are from their home country or often forged US documents. The use of 'undocumented' is an example of something from the book, 1984 or Brave New World. It is sad that the Times engages in this.

[Francisco Picos]

Current immigration laws are an undue burden to business. They limit businesses ability to import workers, due to arbitrary regulations on immigration chosen by the federal government. In a true free-market economy open borders will give business access to cheap labor.

[Davidd]

why is this article still in the newspaper if they do not understand the
word "illegal" then they can't read "english"

[riversam]

"The lady doth protest too much". Hamlet, Act III, scene II. The justifiable criticism about PC usage must really be getting under the skin!!!
Tell you what: I'll go halfway: How about "unqualified"? As in a quack is not qualified to practice medicine. Of course, a quack is also "undocumented" in the sense that he does not have a pretty document in the form of a diploma or medical license to hang on his wall. But of course, the reason he doesn't have the pretty document is that he is not qualified. And precisely because he is not qualified, his practice of medicine is illegal.
As for "alien", what's wrong with that? The Latin root is "alter" or "alia", meaning simply "other", as in "other country". Perhaps we ought to use "stranger", as does French and Spanish ("extanjero") --yes Spanish!! -- or at least proper Spanish, as opposed to some contorted version of it used in the USA by the pro-open borders crowd -- or perhaps "outsider", as used by German ("outlander") or Chinese ("outside person"). All in all, "alien" seems relatively benign.

[blanca]

Apparently the New York Times and LA Times stylebooks are based not on accuracy ("alien" is accurate), but on political correctness.

Seems that accurate reporting and journalism is in its death throws.

[Bramble]

So a drug dealer could be referred to as an unlicensed pharmacist? Surely we don't want to offend any of them, either.

Actually, the term undocumented immigrants is terribly wrong, and it's not just the verbage. These individuals have many documents, but all of them are fraudulent. They are criminals, stealing from legal residents and citizens.

[chris coonen]

My previous email got lost or didn't get included somehow. From the little I have read what I understand is that the foriegn born student or undocumented student must attend three years of California Highschool to qualify for the Dream Act. That made me think two things. First that if the student used false social security number etc. perhaps they or their parents could be prosecuted as that's a felony. Second what if the student does get financial aid in university by the Dream Act and than is kicked out of the USA like all other foriegn born temp student visa people?

The Dream Act is not a path to work or a green card. Student money or visas are not normally paths to green cards in any country. The Dream Act is financial Aid.

The three main ways to be legal in the system are student which is the easiest and fastest because the USA benefits from the university money these foriegn born students bring; or work and marriage/family. The largest immigration is by USA family immigrating families. I believe 1 million people were given green cards last year I think I read and the majority are by family getting their family here. Then there is the rare lottery and refugee status and those weird loop holes that once in a blue moon someone figures out.

So basically to be legal not necessarily a green card are: temp student visa not leading to a green card; or by work or family its not rocket science. Plus my opinion is that anyone brought to the USA as a child and has been here 10 years by school records etc should get a green card. That's not how it works and unlikely ever will. Even in most countries being born in the country does not garentee permission to work etc., the USA of course does this.

Another idea is that it's really easy for university students to get visas to the USA. For foreign born students who live within traveling distance to their home countries I don't understand why they can't go stay at a cousins house or something and get a university student visa; my only guess is that they are worried they could not get back in the USA? Since they would already know the USA university system I don't know what the big hassle would be figuring out how to get a legal student visa from their country? That would be a hardship for someone from South Korea who might not speak the language anymore but not someone who can go by train or bus?

Even if there is immigration law changes the basic rules for immigrating are temp student visas while in school, work (which will become more and more important I am guessing as a criteria in the future, english speaking nurses already can get a green card almost automatically) or family/marriage. And the rare lottery or refugee status. I don't think that is going to fundamentally change. I am interested in the topic being an American who has gone through the immigration process in Europe.

[Encumbered]

"Illegal Immigrant" makes the assumption that the person wants to live here and has in fact "emigrated" here. "Alien" is more correct as the person's own individual intent for being here illegally is not presumed. Some just want to work here, send money home, and then go home. However, political correctness has run strong, silent and deep for a long time now.

[Chilibreath]

From the number of responses here that are AGAINST illegal aliens (I prefer the simple less PC term) it would appear the majority of us have an issue with people, who are undocumented and/or not legally in our country, coming across our border with relative impunity. But as big a problem as this is, the greater problem is how our mainstream media glosses over the issue and, in fact, not only encourages illegal immigration but, also, demands that we (our government and taxpayers) foot the bill for housing, medical care and education for the millions who are in the US now, as well as the millions more who are coming with each passing day.

[Leo Pandac]

To some immigrants, undocumented immigrants are those who entered the US borders without inspection ( no visa) through Homeland Security jurisdiction.These are individuals who succeeded in evading our border patrol and security establishment.

The illegal immigrants are those who came here with their visa and inspection who might have overstayed their visa and stay in the country. A foreign student who came here and finished the study program but failed to adjust her/his status becomes an illegal immigrant.

Those two terms means a lot to many people specially to a sanctuary city like Los Angeles. Welcome the home of the brave and the free.

[riposter]

Illegal alien would be the preferable term, reflecting its use in law, if it weren't deprecated by the lack of use of its complementary term, legal alien. Alien encompasses those who are immigrants, legal or illegal, as well as those from other countries not intending to immigrate, who can also be here legally or not.

But undocumented is definitely a term associated with advocacy for illegal immigrants. That those working in the Times choose to use interchangeably with illegal immigrant accurate reflects the advocacy for illegal immigration that is so pervasive in the paper.

Of course when it comes to misnomers, "Readers Representative" is one, used by newspapers for the apologists they employ. If newspapers actually cared about having themselves held to ethical standards in their reporting and editing, then they would subject themselves to outside, independent evaluations of their ethical performance.