By The Associated Press
TULSA - Members of a local Hispanic group say they are offended by political campaigns opposing illegal immigrants and are vowing to retaliate with votes during the Nov. 7 election and beyond.

The American Dream Coalition, a pro-immigrant group, held a news conference Friday to discuss how they believe political campaigns, including recent television ads, against illegal immigrants are putting some legal immigrants on edge.

The Rev. Victor Orta said the group is spreading the word through church congregations and by other means to get out the vote in the upcoming elections.

"We are responding to an anti-immigrant attitude that is growing by leaps and bounds," said Orta, president of the group. "We are not going to be silent."

Without naming any political candidates, the group said both Republicans and Democrats are playing up the immigrant debate in their campaigns.

Orta said he worries that negative sentiment toward illegal immigrants will breed ill feelings toward all immigrants.

The American Dream Coalition says it supports comprehensive immigration reform, including securing the U.S.-Mexico border. It does not want illegal immigrants already living here to be criminalized.

The group wants to help register 5,000 young voters in the Tulsa area in time for the 2008 presidential election.

It is part of a nationwide effort by similar pro-immigrant groups to register U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants, a demographic group that is estimated to number in the millions.

"Based on my family, we will be voting differently this time around," said Julian Rodriguez, a member of the coalition. "We have been attacked."