Is it semantics or more?

The immigration issue has been a contentious one, especially as political seasons heat up.  One outgrowth, what do we call people at the center of the issue?  CNN has published  a story on its web site discussing the controversy over calling someone an illegal immigrant versus an undocumented immigrant. It describes how some people say you cannot call an immigrant "illegal" if they have not been charged with a crime yet, which is why they have to be called "undocumented." But others say that an immigrant who is here in the United States with no documentation IS an "illegal immigrant" because it is a civil offense to not complete the necessary requirements to obtain a visa, work permit, or citizenship.