This letter is in response to Ian Nichols’ opinion piece last Wednesday entitled “Keep the ‘illegal’ in ‘illegal alien.'”

In my Latino/a history and studies courses, we frequently discuss the current debate over immigration. Part of that discussion focuses on terminology. Interestingly, Nichols in his recent Daily opinion piece added his own take on the term “illegal immigrant.”

Nichols would like us to stop using the term “undocumented immigrant” and keep using the term “illegal immigrant,” or better yet to start using “illegal alien,” which he argues “is the accurate term to use.” If we are being accurate in our terminology, let’s be accurate. “Illegal immigrant” and “illegal alien” are both wrong. Here’s why.

First, from a legal perspective, there is no such thing as an “illegal immigrant” or an “illegal alien.” The closest the government comes to those terms is the rather clunky “unauthorized alien.” So, for accuracy’s sake, that would be the proper term to use.

If “undocumented immigrant” is “purposely incorrect in order to sway the public in favor of special interest groups,” I’d suggest that “illegal immigrant” or “illegal alien” similarly “clouds the reality of the situation.” These terms are discursive and laden with meaning.

“Undocumented immigrant” is, however, far closer to being accurate than “illegal alien.” Since documents from the U.S. government make one authorized or unauthorized to be in the United States, referring to those documents makes sense. “Alien” is a late 18th-, early 19th-century term that strikes many as outdated, hence the use of “immigrant.”

Second, from a humanistic point of view, there is no such thing as an “illegal immigrant.” Persons escaping corrupt governments, gross poverty, war and civil strife, joblessness and other such social problems should not, in my opinion, be demeaned by being labeled “illegal.” That term not only oversimplifies the law, it oversimplifies how we as human beings view other human beings. It is dehumanizing and degrading, and that is why many concerned Americans dislike hyperbolic terms like “illegal immigrant” or “illegal alien.”

I’m glad your experience immigrating to the United States was so positive. It is not always so for other groups. The U.S. immigration system is favorably disposed to certain groups — such as Cubans escaping communism in Cuba — and less favorably disposed to other groups, such as Mexicans. Perhaps your parents “did it the correct way” because they could?

For someone interested in clarifying terminology, your column lacks a great deal of clarity and clear use of terminology. For example, you mention that you’re “not saying that all Hispanic-Americans are illegals.” Indeed, if you are “Hispanic” and “American” you’d be a citizen and hence not illegal. You seem to equate all Latino/as as being Democrats, but that hardly jibes with reality.

You ask the rhetorical question, “Which party do you think these illegals will vote for?” My answer: none. Voting is a right that comes with citizenship, which means that “undocumented immigrants” (i.e., “illegals”) and even “authorized” immigrants cannot vote.

In this column, Mr. Nichols, you (unintentionally, I hope) simplify a complex situation and pigeonhole an entire group of people in a negative and discriminatory way. This is what the anthropologist Leo Chavez accurately calls the “Latino threat narrative.” That narrative suggests that all Latinos are a hazard to the U.S. body politic. Your linking of “Hispanic-American” and “illegals” is a good example of the problem with this type of narrative.

I wholeheartedly agree with the subtext of your article that we need to be clear in our terminology and that political correctness can be a problem in this discussion. However, a little more education on this subject for all of us is most likely necessary.

We have a vibrant and balanced Latino/a studies program here at Iowa State. I encourage you and all ISU students to avail yourself of our classes. You will learn a little more about the use of these terms and how they affect Latino/a people in the United States today.