A conservative group at the University of Texas at Austin is coming under fire for plans to hold a controversial event called “Catch an Illegal Immigrant.”
The school’s chapter of Young Conservatives of Texas posted the details of what it bills as a “game” to its Facebook page on Monday.
According to the post – written by chairman Lorenzo Garcia – several people will be walking around the school’s campus with the words “illegal immigrant” printed on their clothing. Any student who “catches” one of the so-called “illegal immigrants” and brings them back to the student organization’s table will receive a $25 gift card.
The group said on its Facebook account that the purpose of the Nov. 20 event is to “spark a campus-wide discussion about the issue of illegal immigration, and how it affects our everyday lives.”
The YCT group also tweeted out the event using the eyebrow-raising hashtag “#getinthebackoftheline.”
Requests for comment from school officials were not immediately returned.
The same group – at a school where Hispanics account for 19.1% of students – was criticized earlier this fall for holding a bake sale with “special pricing” for customers based on their race and ethnicity.
The “Catch an Illegal Immigrant” event drew the ire of many on Facebook and Twitter with several urging students to call the school to file complaints.
“This is sick,” wrote Katherine Rae Mondo. “This event is considered a racist attack and we will make sure that the authorities in charge are aware of it,” wrote Irving Reyna.
