Jessica Zafra to immigrate

As usual, Jessica Zafra gets it.

Her blog entry title "How to Immigrate to the US" is an illustration of correct word usage, even if you constantly hear Filipinos say,"My family migrated to the States."

Some writers use the two terms interchangeably, but there is a temporal difference between these two journeys.

Migrate, emigrate, and immigrate are terms used to describe a movement from one place to another.

Migrate, which is used of people and animals, oftentimes implies a lack of permanent settlement, especially as a result of seasonal or periodic movement. Notice how birds from other countries migrate to the Philippines during cold months. Since they don't intend to stay (why would they), we don't call them immigrant flock, they are simply migrant birds.

Emigrate and immigrate are used only of people and imply a permanent move, generally across a political, or cultural boundary.

Emigrate describes the move relative to the point of departure: After GMA cheated her way to the presidency, many politicians emigrated (that is, left the country).

By contrast, immigrate describes the move relative to the destination: The promise of prosperity in the United States encouraged many nurses to immigrate (that is, move to the United States).

Now that Jessica is ready to rule the world, is she migrating, immigrating, or emigrating?