California Immigration Rights Group Decries "Illegal Alien" Halloween Costume Being Retailed onTarget's Website

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles has asked the Target store chain and Wisconsin-based Buy-Seasons, Inc., to stop selling an "illegal alien" Halloween costume that it says if offensive. The costume features the mask of an alien with a green card and an orange jumpsuit with "illegal alien" written across the front. This is just downright ridiculous. It is distasteful and mean-spirited. This will not help the ongoing immigration reform debate that has been raging for quite some time.

Target said that it is removing the costume from the site after receiving several complaints. Company spokesman Joshua Thomas said the store never intended to sell the outfit but included it in its online offerings by mistake. Sorry but I don't buy that explanation. Had no-one complained, they would have continued to sell this costume. This is reminiscent of the mess that Costco found itself in with "Lil Monkey," the black doll with the pet monkey.