This article reports on the Associated Press controversy regarding term “illegal immigrant” in news reporting. AP deputy standards editor David Minthorn is quoted as saying, “Alternatives like undocumented worker, illegal alien or illegals lack precision or may have negative connotations. Illegal immigrant, on the other hand, is accurate and neutral for news stories.”
http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/11/the_associated_press_still_clings_to_the_i-word.html