No one could have ever prepared me for what I would see on the link posted by a fellow DreamACTivist. The link led to the Target website, where I witnessed an object for sale that still has me in a state of shock and awe.

The item is described as “Illegal Alien Adult Costume One Size,” and it depicts an extraterrestrial “alien” wearing an orange jumpsuit with the words “ILLEGAL ALIEN” stamped on the front, and to make matters worse, is holding a “Green Card.” I felt slapped with a heavy dose of WTF????

Where to start? First of all, why is the extraterrestrial being used as the face of the “illegal alien?” How can you reduce the entire undocumented population to a being, a myth, something that is NOT EVEN HUMAN? We are not even worth a human face, human eyes to acknowledge the injustice and racism and hatred in the world, as evidenced by the very existence of this so-called “costume,” or a human mouth to speak out against actions such as this that further widen the deep chasm in our society surrounding immigration.

Secondly, why the orange jumpsuit? Why the implication that we are all criminals? We do not need another sick and twisted reminder of the ineffective systems of our detention centers, where nursing mothers are separated from the children and humiliated by guards, where the children lack access to an education, where they are issued child-size jumpsuits and are only permitted a minute amount of time outside of a prison of walls and cells and bricks.

Thirdly, why the “green card?” Why taunt and insult our community with the one thing we have been denied, day after day, year after year? Why fuel the lies and misconceptions that already are a tremendous burden to bear? Why contribute to the cycle of oppression, of discrimination, of inequality? Never could I imagine that Target could stoop to this level.

People have begun to respond by leaving reviews on the Target site, which I encourage everyone who feels this is wrong to also do. One particular review stood out to me, and left me almost as speechless as the actual “costume” itself:

People are SOO sensitive! I think this is great. We now can understand what its like to be illegal in this country. Thank God most of us only have to do it for 1 night!! For those of you who do it every day, its causing way too much traffic and draining our economy. Come here legally and acclimate (means speak english) or stay where you are. Thanks!!

So now I’m being sensitive eh? I say I’m tired of my identity constantly being ripped away and the image of what America feels like I should look like handed to me in return, and I’m being sensitive? I say I’m worried about the message undocumented children will take away from this, that they will always be less than, will always be different, will never be normal, the one thing all children crave, and I’m being sensitive? I say I’m tired of people stepping on our community, only to turn around and make a profit from such treatment, and I’m being sensitive?

Well so be it Target, because this is just crossing the line. You’ve messed with the wrong movement.

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