What Once was 'Amnesty' is now 'Pathway to Citizenship"

Have you noticed that what once was called "amnesty" is now being dubbed "a pathway to citizenship"? It almost seems that "amnesty" was such a dirty word, and we had sworn so much that we would never go that route, that we have had to come up with different terminology if we are going to go ahead with providing a way for those who are illegally in the United States to have citizenship.

"Amnesty" or "pathway to citizenship," either way, what is so wrong with forgiving someone who simply lacks their paperwork? Forgiveness is not such a bad thing, and forgiving someone for not having paperwork  is not such a bad thing to forgive a person of.