The Stacks project

Proof. Let $(U, u) \to (Y, y)$ be an étale morphism of algebraic spaces and consider the set of $w \in |U \times _ Y X|$ mapping to $u \in |U|$ and one of the $x_ i \in |X|$. By Decent Spaces, Lemma 68.18.4 (if $f$ is of finite type) or Decent Spaces, Lemma 68.18.5 (if $Y$ is decent) this set is finite. It follows that we may replace $f$ by the base change $U \times _ Y X \to U$ and $x_1, \ldots , x_ n$ by the set of these $w$. In particular we may and do assume that $Y$ is an affine scheme, whence $X$ is a separated algebraic space.

Choose an affine scheme $Z$ and an étale morphism $Z \to X$ such that $x_1, \ldots , x_ n$ are in the image of $|Z| \to |X|$. The fibres of $|Z| \to |X|$ are finite, see Properties of Spaces, Lemma 66.6.7 (or the more general discussion in Decent Spaces, Section 68.6). Let $\{ z_1, \ldots , z_ m\} \subset |Z|$ be the preimage of $\{ x_1, \ldots , x_ n\}$. By More on Morphisms, Lemma 37.41.4 there exists an étale morphism $(U, u) \to (Y, y)$ such that $U \times _ Y Z = Z_1 \amalg Z_2$ with $Z_1 \to U$ finite and $(Z_1)_ y = \{ z_1, \ldots , z_ m\}$. We may assume that $U$ is affine and hence $Z_1$ is affine too.

Since $f$ is separated, the image $V$ of $Z_1 \to X$ is both open and closed (Morphisms of Spaces, Lemma 67.40.6). Set $W = X \setminus V$ to get a decomposition as in the lemma. To finish the proof we have to show that $V \to U$ is finite. As $Z_1 \to V$ is surjective and étale, $V$ is the quotient of $Z_1$ by the étale equivalence relation $R = Z_1 \times _ V Z_1$, see Spaces, Lemma 65.9.1. Since $f$ is separated, $V \to U$ is separated and $R$ is closed in $Z_1 \times _ U Z_1$. Since $Z_1 \to U$ is finite, the projections $s, t : R \to Z_1$ are finite. Thus $V$ is an affine scheme by Groupoids, Proposition 39.23.9. By Morphisms, Lemma 29.41.9 we conclude that $V \to U$ is proper and by Morphisms, Lemma 29.44.11 we conclude that $V \to U$ is finite, thereby finishing the proof. $\square$