http://www.newsok.com/article/2964377

By Judy Gibbs Robinson
Staff Writer
Because illegal immigration remains a hot issue, Gov. Brad Henry should set an example by using the right terminology, an advisory group said Monday.

The Governor's Advisory Council on Latin American and Hispanic Affairs voted unanimously to ask Henry to cease using the words "illegal immigrant" or "illegal alien" and instead to call those who are here illegally "undocumented immigrants."

"I feel insulted every time when I hear that word 'illegal immigrant,'" said council member Guillermo Rojas of Tulsa.

"And don't use 'alien' either. They're not from outer space," said Arthur Valdez of Oklahoma City.

Henry will continue using the terms "illegal immigration" and "illegal immigrant," Henry's spokesman, Paul Sund said.

"We do not plan to change," Sund said without elaboration.

Terms controversial
Those fighting immigration prefer the official government term, "illegal aliens," and frequently shorten it to "illegals" -- to the annoyance of many immigration advocates.

"Using the word in this way is grammatically incorrect and crosses the line by criminalizing the person, not the action they are purported to have committed," the National Association of Hispanic Journalists says on its Web site.

In this war of words, one of the key battles is over the meaning of "illegal." While it is against the law to cross the U.S. border without permission, the violation is a civil -- not criminal -- offense.

"They're not illegal. They're not breaking any law," Rojas said.

Giovanni Perry of Norman, the council's acting chairwoman and an immigration lawyer, stopped short of agreeing with that interpretation.

"Obviously if somebody crosses the border without documents then they are breaking the law," she said after the meeting.

To Perry and other Hispanics, the language of the immigration debate is emotionally charged.

"I've heard others say that's just rhetoric and trying to be politically correct. But really, I can't keep the emotions out of the discussion," Perry said.