Dems urge GOP to halt immigrant prank

updated 8:54 a.m. ET Feb. 28, 2007

WASHINGTON - National Democrats on Tuesday urged Republican Party chairman Mel Martinez to stop the independent College Republicans from holding "Catch an Illegal Immigrant" events around the country.

Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean and Ramona Martinez, chair of the Democratic National Committee's Hispanic caucus, sent a letter to the GOP chairman asking him to put a halt to the events.

"These despicable tactics have no place in our public discourse or on our college campuses," the letter said.

The game is a variation of hide and seek, with one player posing as an illegal immigrant and everyone else trying to find the person. The winner usually gets a prize.

Tracy Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said "we find these activities both egregious and offensive and condemn them wholeheartedly." But she noted the College Republicans are independent of the RNC: "We do not control their activities."

Democrats sent a similar letter to chairman Martinez's predecessor Ken Mehlman in September last year, noting that College Republicans were holding similar "catch an illegal immigrant" events in Pennsylvania and Texas. The RNC condemned the activities at the time.

The DNC noted that the game was recently played at New York University and drew several hundred students. Students at other colleges also have played the game.

MORE FROM POLITICS

Politics Section Front

U.S. deficit sets October record of $176.4 billion Obama team reaches out to airline industry Jobless claims fall to lowest level since January Source: U.S. envoy objects to troop increase Oral history of Bush presidency planned Diplomats question role of Iran nuke plant   Palin: McCain aides kept me ‘bottled up’ Tough choices on abortion coverage Of bats and billions: Following stimulus funds For Obama, defining China is a challenge Politics Section Front   Add Politics headlines to your news reader: