It is important to be aware of the vocabulary that is used and the vocabulary that should be used when referring to this topic.
Alien
a resident born in or belonging to another country who has not acquired citizenship by naturalization; a foreigner; a person who has been estranged or excluded; noncitizen; a creature from outer space
"alien" should be stricken from immigration discussions and instead use ‘undocumented worker’ or ‘noncitizen’
Documented Worker
a worker from a country other than the United States who has completed the appropriate and official paperwork and has been approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to work legally in the U.S.
Refugee
a person who is outside his or her country of nationality and is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion
Asylee
a person who seeks asylum in the U.S., is in the U.S. and is unable or unwilling to return to his or her home country for fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Are in the U.S. legally.
Immigrant
a person who voluntarily leaves his or her country of nationality to work, study or live in another country. Legal immigrants may be eligible for certain public assistance benefits.
Undocumented Worker
a worker who has not completed appropriate and official paperwork to work legally in the United States and has not received the approval by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to work in the United States. This group also includes persons who have overstayed their legal visas and have no current documentation.