The Nebraska Republican Party has launched a fundraising appeal tied to its opposition to benefits or amnesty for illegal immigrants.

A mailing last month centering on the issue has prompted more than 1,000 responses so far, GOP State Chairman Mark Fahleson of Lincoln said Thursday.

The letter asks recipients to answer a series of questions expressing their opinions about illegal immigration while seeking contributions to the party.

Many, but not all, respondents attached contributions, Fahleson said.

"Initial results are pretty overwhelmingly against amnesty and appear to confirm Governor Heineman's position" opposing benefits for those who are illegally in the country, Fahleson said.

Contributions were solicited to "provide the financial resources that will enable us to retain common-sense conservatives" like Gov. Dave Heineman and other Republicans in office, the letter stated.

Heineman recently signed into law a bill requiring verification of eligibility for public benefits.

In 2006, the Legislature overrode Heineman's veto of legislation that allows students from illegal immigrant families to pay resident tuition rates at Nebraska universities and colleges.

"We still need to ensure that illegal immigrants are not offered in-state tuition rates at our public universities," Fahleson wrote in the fundraising letter.

Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont has served notice he'll introduce a bill to repeal that law in 2010.

Heineman will be a candidate for re-election next year.

The resident tuition issue, which affects about two dozen students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was one of the questions asked in the GOP survey.

"Conservatives will continue to fight against amnesty policies that are being proposed by the Obama administration," Fahleson wrote. "Legalization of undocumented workers is unacceptable."

The GOP's stance mirrors the position of most Nebraskans, Fahleson said.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com.