I disagree with both GP and the immigration laws affecting these people, but the term "illegals" to describe them strikes me as an innocuous shorthand for "people of illegal immigration status." It carries no implicit judgment of the people or the laws; it just states the relationship of the former to the latter.
This trend of casual libel against others, claiming intent and meaning that you can't possibly know, is worrying.
This trend of casual libel against others, claiming intent and meaning that you can't possibly know, is worrying.