AUSTIN, TEXAS—The Young Conservatives of Texas announced Monday that they will play a “Catch an Illegal Immigrant Game” on a college campus, drawing condemnation from Democrats and stirring passions over an issue that has vexed the border state.

The game is planned for Wednesday, when club members will wander the University of Texas at Austin wearing signs that say “illegal immigrant.” Students who capture them and take them to the Young Conservatives’ recruiting table will get $25 gift certificates.

“The purpose of this event is to spark a campus-wide discussion about the issue of illegal immigration, and how it affects our everyday lives,” according to a statement posted by the group’s spokesman, Lorenzo Garcia.

The group did not immediately reply to several emails sent by The Associated Press.

Students found guilty of violating the honour code could face expulsion, school officials said.

The Texas Democratic Party condemned the game and pointed out that Garcia recently was a paid staffer with Republican Greg Abbott’s campaign for governor. The Democrats have been pushing Abbott to state his position on a Texas law that allows children brought into the U.S. illegally by their parents to receive lower in-state tuition, legislation called the Texas Dream Act.

“While Abbott has said he doesn’t support the Dream Act as it is, he refuses to say what he would change and if he supports it at all,” state Democratic chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said. “He must come out and immediately denounce Wednesday’s event. This style of hatred and fear is not the type of leadership Texas deserves.”

Abbott’s Press Secretary, Avdiel Huerta, said the “campaign has no affiliation with this repugnant effort.”

Many top Republican candidates have promised to repeal the Texas Dream Act. Students affected by the law frequently stage protests on the Austin campus demanding changes to federal immigration law.

Gregory Vincent, the university’s vice-president for diversity, said students who participate in the game Wednesday would be exercising their freedom of speech “to the detriment of others.”

“The YCT is contributing to an environment of exclusion and disrespect among our students, faculty and staff by sending the message that certain students do not belong on our campus,” Vincent said in a statement. “If the members of YCT carry out their plan . . . they are wilfully ignoring the honour code and contributing to the degradation of our campus culture.”