THE BORDER REPORT

If there's one aspect of the immigration debate where rational thought falls apart faster than any other, it's the fight over what to call them. Nothing, and I mean nothing, not the cost vs. benefits squabble, not the recidivism battle, not the wall, not even the amnesty vs. guestworker plan shout-fests draw people's ire more than what to call these people. Myself, I prefer calling them illegal migrants, since they 1) illegally entered the country, and 2) are not immigrants but migrants who only intend to stay for a short part of their lives. The Arizona Daily Star calls them illegal entrants which is awkward to say. The Arizona Republic, and Gannett Company, Inc., calls them undocumented immigrants, which is long and boggy. The Associated Press calls them illegal immigrants, which ain't half bad. The television networks seem to call them illegal immigrants or illegals when reporting the news and illegal aliens when discussed by commentators. And then there's the Washington Times who always called them illegal aliens –until now. As of this week, the politically conservative paper will now refer to them as illegal immigrants, dropping the whole aliens thing, which I believe has its roots in some post-World War II INS manual. Guess times change, even at the Moony paper.

-- Michel Marizco