Pres. Reagan Called Haitians Illegal Aliens

In the opening days of Pres. Ronald Reagan’s first term, 2/28/81, the President learned that a boatload of Haitians had been apprehended. The President wrote in his diary,

I’m all for opening the doors for refugees from totalitarianism but this is more complicated. These are just people who believe they can have a better life here. They are in fact illegal aliens. We’ll have to deport them but it’s a long & complicated business due to our own laws.

Can you believe that? Twenty-six years later and we still don’t have it figured out. What part of “illegal alien” and “deport” is not clear?