The choice of how to describe immigrants is vital - This is the second of two columns by Edward Schumacher-Matos, who is reviewing Miami Herald coverage of immigration issues.

“Is The Miami Herald guilt-ridden with white man’s burden, soft on crime or just muddle headed? These are among the questions raised by some readers about what they see as The Herald’s squeamishness in writing about . . well, that’s the issue. Are they illegal aliens? Undocumented workers? Or as some say in South Texas, just plain wetbacks.

The choice is critical. In the escalating battle over immigration, all sides agree on at least this: words are power. The labels that stick become the prism through which the nation views the issue. This helps determine which side wins. So it is no mistake that a bill offering a path to citizenship for thousands of illegal-immigrant students is titled the ”Dream Act” by pro-immigrant forces. Who would deny hopes and the American Dream to youths?”

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