"Undocumented immigrant" preferable to "illegal immigrant"?

The Society of Professional Journalists' (of which I was VP of our student chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) diversity committee met this past year to consider the best language journalists should use when addressing people of varying cultures. For example, consider the notion that "undocumented immigrant" be used in place of "illegal immigrant". That's the SPJ diversity committee stance...not mine.

In an opinion piece by SPJ member Leo E. Laurence, a member of The National Association of Hispanic Journalists, states, "It was based on our federal, constitutional principle that everyone is considered innocent of any crime until proven guilty in a court of law. The proposed Diversity Committee resolution urged journalists to use the phrase “undocumented immigrant(s), and avoid both 'illegal immigrant' or 'illegal alien'.

NOTE: Laurence's opinion piece does not reflect the views of SPJ, its membership or its Diversity Committee. The committee itself has taken no official initiative on the use of the phrase "illegal immigrant."

It's sort of like a news anchorperson saying, "...the ALLEGED perpetrator or ALLEGED crime committed", when the accused readily admitted murdering someone. I think. Right?

Laurence goes on to state that only a judge can deem someone or something "illegal" and that the press' use - or the public's use - of the phrase "illegal immigrant" or "illegal alien" only helps to create bigotry toward a race of people. (I'm paraphrasing.)

Even FoxNews' Megyn Kelly grapples the topic in a FoxNews segment, going as far as alluding that if journalists heed Laurence's suggestion, why not refer to rapists as "nonconsensual sex partners". Personally, I do not find her analogy offending in the least bit.

I don't find anything about Megyn Kelly offending actually. ;)