Illegal Alien Outfits For Halloween - Offensive Or Not?

Every October, in preparation for Halloween, all of the big department and party stores compete to come up with the most zany and original costumes.

This year was no different than any other. However, one of the creations caused quite an uproar among America's Hispanic immigrant population.

The ensemble, dubbed the "Illegal Alien Outfit for Halloween" consisted of an orange prison jumpsuit, extra-terrestrial alien mask, and a fake green card. The words "Illegal Alien" were stamped across the back and chest of the jumpsuit in black, bold text.

There are several variations on the costume, one of which includes a mask complete with a baseball cap and handlebar mustache. This variation in particular sparked heated debate in many Latin American communities. Many Hispanic immigrants claimed that this costume is offensive and perpetuates a stereotype, and a very unfavorable one at that.

The term "illegal alien" is the government's official term for those in the country with no visa.

One of the biggest opposing to the sale of the costume is the Los Angeles based group Coalition for Humane Immigration Rights. The coalition, also known as CHIRLA, was adamant in asking several large companies to pull the costumes from their shelves. Many of them, including retail giants Target and Amazon.com, complied.

However, not everyone shares the same views on this issue. Many people believe that refusing to sell the costume is a clear attack on our freedom of speech. William Gheen, head of the political action committee Americans for Legal Immigration, said that he saw the costume and thought it was funny.

Gheen has also suggested that Latin American immigrants are responsible for bringing an influx of Tuberculosis to the United States. However, there is no evidence to support these claims. According to a recent governmental study, TB is at an all time low.

I believe the costume most likely started out as a joke, and a way to outdo the competition. With the economy in a depressed state, many people will go to great lengths to stand out from the crowd.

This situation also brings to mind a quote by former Supreme Court associate justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. He said, "The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins."

In this case, the fist was the Illegal Alien Halloween Costume. The only question in my mind is whether the fist swung too far and struck the nose of all Hispanic immigrants. What do you think?