Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is defending his participation in a conference organized by a group that’s been called “anti-immigrant.”

Kobach gave a presentation last week in Washington for The Social Contract Press, which the Southern Poverty Law Center considers an anti-immigrant hate group. The SPLC, which tracks hate groups, accuses The Social Contract Press of publishing race-baiting articles.

Kobach told The Kansas City Star that criticism of the conference was “outrageous” in part because it included many minority presenters. Kobach also says opposing illegal immigration doesn’t mean an organization is anti-immigrant.

Kobach has championed Kansas’ strict voter registration law, which requires proof-of-citizenship documents.

The Social Contract Press didn’t immediately respond to a call seeking comment Wednesday.