A Halloween costume which is an orange jumpsuit with the words "ILLEGAL ALIEN" on the front, a space alien mask and a plastic green card has created a mighty stir among immigrant groups because of its racist overtones.

It's "demeaning," says Brent Wilkes of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "The costumes say, 'These people are not human, they are aliens.' "

I couldn't agree more. The demonizing of undocumented men women and children, pushed by such racists as Lou Dobbs on CNN, has gone far enough in this country.

We have seen the effects all across the US with hate crimes against Hispanics rising sharply.

In Suffolk County, New York, where the county executive Steve Levy is an immigrant baiter there has been one horrific murder of an immigrant and many other grievous assaults.

In the midst of this, American retailers have been trying to cash in on the anti-immigrant sentiment by stocking this hateful costume.

Target, ToysRUs, Walgreen's, Meijer and Amazon all carried the item with no problem until the protests became public.

Shame on them and any misguided American who actually bought this Hitler-like paraphernalia.

What's next? Masks mocking the old, the sick, the dying, a "Euthanasia Nurse" costume perhaps?

We wonder why the Taliban and such entities have such ingrained fear and hatred of this country and what we stand for.

When you see such nonsense freely on sale here you might get an inkling why.

Stereotyping, racism, picking on the most vulnerable is not an American trait but there are some in this society who thrive on it.

Just read the following paragraphs and weep. Jalem Getz, CEO of BuySeasons, which owns buycostumes.com, says the get-up is not offensive and he'll continue to sell it.

"It's not a caricature of an illegal immigrant; it's a play on words," he says.

William Gheen of Americans for Legal Immigration, which favors tight controls on immigration, put a costume on eBay. Bids went to $116 before eBay pulled it.

"This is a spooky Halloween because, apparently, I no longer live in a country of free markets, free speech or free political expression," Gheen says.

No sir, you live in a country where common decency still prevails, hopefully, and we do not pick on those most vulnerable in society.

At least most of us don't. To Mr. Getz and Mr Gheen (these two sound like a bad Vaudeville act already), I say, "Have you no shame?"