I would call them "undocumented Americans." No, they are not "illegal immigrants" or "illegal aliens." Oh, those terms will be used, and I will, indeed, use them myself, at times, as they are terms leaving it clear as to who is being referred to.
In calling them "undocumented Americans," the listener or reader might not make a full connection, thinking you must not be speaking of those here illegally, for they are not "Americans" if they are not citizens.
But, I use the term not to say they are citizens, but to say they live in America, just like everyone who lives in Utah is a Utahn.
Calling them "Illegals," I do not like. Crimes are illegal. People are not. "Illegals" is an offensive term.
Calling them "aliens" is also offensive. When I think of an alien, I think of someone from outer space.
"Undocumented residents"? It offends some to have them called by that name. Call a spade, a spade, they say. They are illegal aliens, so that is what we should call them. The law books even call them "illegal aliens," so if we are to call them by the correct name, "illegal aliens," it is, we are told.
If government terminology is always right, then consider that once there was a government program for deporting them (1954) called "Operation Wetback." We can see we shouldn't call them "Wetbacks," so let's use better judgement and find a different term than, "illegals" and "aliens."
So, I might call them "undocumented Americans," acknowledging that they do live in America. Some will say, "Well, that's the point. They don't have the right to live in America, so we shouldn't be calling them "Americans'."
"Undocumented Americans" is an oxymoron, to them, as would be "illegal Americans."
Fact is, they do live in America. So, if I am using the term in that context, it is not an oxymoron.
Just as we are allowed to speak kindly and favorably about anyone, I am choosing a term that is favorable towards them.
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