Good Thursday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

We're not even into the general election season yet, but Pennsylvania's closely watched race for U.S. Senate has already taken a seriously surreal - and seriously xenophobic - turn.

In a fiery fundraising mailer obtained by PennLive, Republican hopeful Lou Barletta, says America is "at war" with "violent criminal aliens" and "radical terrorists" who are bent on "[killing] and [victimizing] Americans."

The mailer comes even as lawmakers on Capitol Hill reached a bipartisan agreement on immigration reform that would grant legal status to 1.8 million undocumented immigrants; spend more on border security and curb family-based immigration programs. It would not end the so-called "Diversity Visa Lottery" program.

President Donald Trump, who has previously referred to undocumented immigrants as "criminals" and "rapists" has threatened to veto the legislation being circulated by the self-described "Common Sense Caucus," The Washington Post reported Thursday.

Barletta, a former mayor of Hazleton, Pa., who made his reputation for cracking down on illegal immigrants in his coal country city, lays blame for these "killers" at the feet of Pennsylvania's Democratic incumbent senator, Bob Casey, who's up for re-election this fall, and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The two Democrats are responsible for undocumented immigrants, who are hellbent on rape, pillage and murder, taking refuge in "the sanctuary cities" of the left, where they're "untouchable," the mailer reads.

Either that, these same undocumented immigrants "sneak across our border or walk right through the front door via liberal schemes like the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,'" that Schumer first proposed in 1990.

In 2013, however, Schumer was among the so-called "Gang of Eight," immigration reformers who, among other things, proposed repealing the lottery program, The Atlantic reported.

Barletta's mailer dismisses Casey as Schumer's "favorite senator," and goes on to accuse him of "marching in lock-step" to block President Donald Trump's immigration reform efforts.

Then Barletta does the exact same thing he accuses Casey of doing, by offering his unqualified support for Trump.

"I was proud to be one of President Trump's earliest supporters and I'm honored he's supporting me in this race," Barletta mailer reads, dropping in a Trump soundbite where he called the Pennsylvania Republican a "great guy."

Barletta, who locked up the Republican endorsement during a state GOP meeting in Hershey, Pa., last weekend, has had trouble raising money in a three-way primary race. And some Republicans are concerned that his outspoken stance on immigration could cause trouble for down-ballot GOP candidates.

Max Steele, a spokesman for Pennsylvania Democrats, called Barletta's mailer "deeply troubling," but added that voters should expect more "extremist rhetoric" as the race grinds forward.

"It's deeply troubling that a candidate who sits on the board of a hate group and has a long history of associating with white nationalist groups would say he's building an 'army' because 'America is at war' with undocumented immigrants," Steele said in an email. "But Pennsylvanians should expect more extremist rhetoric from Congressman Barletta because he is a desperate, extremist candidate. Rather than working to find common ground and actually reform our immigration system, Barletta is doing what he always does: stoking fear and grandstanding."

Barletta's spokesman, Jon Anzur, defended the 11th District congressman's remarks, saying the mail piece makes clear "America is at war with violent criminals and terrorists who gain access to our country through our open borders and broken immigration system.

Barletta is "is fighting to enforce our laws, preserve American jobs, and protect our national security," Anzur said. "By working to stop illegal immigration, Congressman Barletta is advocating for legal immigrants who come to this country the proper way but whose wages are depressed and jobs are threatened by illegal immigration."

That's a contrast to Casey who "supports sanctuary cities and has repeatedly voted against securing our borders," Anzur said.

Read the full mailer below:

Barletta Cease and Desist Petition by jmicek on Scribd

The rest of the day's news starts now.

Today is the deadline for Gov. Tom Wolf to submit a new map of Pennsylvania's 18 congressional districts to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Gov. Tom Wolf has signed new lobbyist disclosure rules into law.

Because of uncertainty over the new maps, GOP 15th Congressional District candidate Ryan Mackenzie says he's also going to run for re-election to his Lehigh County-based state House seat, The Morning Call reports.

Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski begins his defense in his federal corruption trial today, The Morning Call also reports.

The Inquirer takes a look at how white homeowners are taking advantage of a mortgage program intended to help black neighborhoods.

The Incline takes you behind the scenes to show how Pittsburgh's Port Authority keeps its buses clean in winter time.

Here's a very colorful #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day:

Eighth graders ... EIGHTH GRADERS ... can do a better job of redistricting than Pa. lawmakers. WHYY-FM has the story.

So this happened (via PoliticsPA):

Voting lines are shorter - but mostly for whites, Stateline.org reports.

Paul Ryan is struggling to find a solution for the Dreamers as the GOP fractures, Politico reports.

Roll Call looks at what's happened to some #MeToo victims, finding stalled careers and alienation.

WolfWatch.

Gov. Tom Wolf has no public schedule today.

Heavy Rotation.

Here's one to get your Thursday morning going.

And now you're up to date.