Drop the ‘i’ word? Debating the term ‘illegal immigrant’

What is the appropriate terminology — illegal alien, illegal immigrant, undocumented immigrant, etc.?  For alternative viewpoints from me, the Center for Immigration Studies, and the Associated Press, see MSNBC.com.  I have previously written on this topic for Concurring Opinions.

The comments to the discussion are “enlightening” as well as troubling.  Here is an example:

 “OMG really people?!! call them what you want, i call them illegal, and a volley of other colorful words. but i say the US adopt a recipratory rule. the person coming here illeagly gets the same treatment as an illegal would in their native country!! thats only fair. if i am illeagly in mexico, and tthe punishment is jail and automatic deportation, then that is what it should be here for any illegal mexican. if mexico sees me being there as punishable by death, then so should we!! and i think we should adopt the same laws as status in the other countries. for instance, as a non citizen of mexico, i cannot own property in some areas of mexico. i think the only place an illegal should be able to “own” property is in the necular test sights of nevada. the US is going about this all wrong. treat the invading criminals like they would treat you or I if we were illegal in their country. then we will really see how “unfair” america is. or we could do exocutions of illegals found on the border and have a healthy coyote and vulture population, and not have to worry about this crap at all.” (emphasis added).

 KJ