The University of Texas at Austin’s chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas planned on hosting an event today called “Catch an Illegal Immigrant.” According to the group’s chairman, Lorenzo Garza, the purpose of the event was to “spark a campus-wide discussion about the issue of illegal immigration and how it affects our everyday lives.”

Well, it sparked a discussion. A big one. The discussion got so big, that the group canceled the event.

After denunciations from both major political parties and University of Texas President Bill Powers, the UT chapter of Young Conservatives of Texas has called off a “Catch an Illegal Immigrant” event set for Wednesday.

In a statement, Lorenzo Garcia, the group’s chairman, said members were concerned “that the university will retaliate against them and that the protest against the event could create a safety issue for our volunteers.”

If it hasn’t happened already, let me go ahead and nip any claims conservatives may try to make that the whole event was “just a joke” in the bud. This is not satire. It’s not even a good joke. By tucking their tails and running, the organization is showing that they are bullies who wilt in the face of confrontation. They are worried that they might have to face the sort of treatment they were planning on doling out to others. Whatever sort of “discussion” they hoped to “spark,” apparently it did not involve serious and vehement disagreement.

It’s worth noting that a similar event in Michigan in 2006 cost someone their job: Continue reading →