List of alleged illegal immigrants mailed in Utah

List of alleged illegal immigrants mailed in Utah
By BROCK VERGAKIS Associated Press Writer
Posted: 07/13/2010 04:37:25 PM PDT
Updated: 07/13/2010 06:26:29 PM PDT
SALT LAKE CITY—A list containing the names and personal information
of
1,300 people an anonymous group contends are illegal immigrants has
been mailed around Utah, terrifying the state's Hispanic community.
Republican Gov. Gary Herbert wrote in a tweet Tuesday that he has
asked state agencies to investigate the list—sent anonymously to
several media outlets, and law enforcement and state agencies. A
letter accompanying the list demands that those on it be deported
immediately.
Most of the names on the list are of Hispanic origin. The list also
contains highly detailed personal information such as Social Security
numbers, birth dates, workplaces, addresses and phone numbers. Names
of children are included, along with due dates of pregnant women on
the list.
"My phone has been ringing nonstop since this morning with people
finding out they're on the list," said Tony Yapias, former director
of
the Utah Office of Hispanic Affairs. "They're feeling terrorized.
They're very scared."
The list's release comes as several conservative Utah lawmakers
consider sponsoring a tough new illegal immigration law similar to
the
one passed recently in Arizona.
Arizona's law, which takes effect July 29, directs police enforcing
other laws to ask about a suspect's immigration status if there is
reason to believe the person is in the United States illegally.
Herbert has said a new immigration law likely will be passed when
lawmakers convene in
January, although he said it may be different from Arizona's. Herbert
spokeswoman Angie Welling was traveling back from Washington, D.C.,
Tuesday and could not immediately be reached for comment.
The letter included a long recipient list, including newspapers,
broadcast outlets, The Associated Press, law enforcement and state
agencies, various Utah officials, and the Department of Homeland
Security. The letters began arriving in mailboxes in recent days.
Dave Lewis, communication director for the state Department of
Workforce Services, said his agency didn't receive a copy of the list
from the governor's office until late Tuesday.
"We've got some people in our technology department looking at it
right now," he said. "It's a high priority. We want to figure out the
how's and why's."
He said his agency is one of several with access to the information
included in the list.
The letter says some names on the list were sent to the Immigration
and Customs Enforcement office in Salt Lake City in April. It says
the
new list includes new names, for a total of more than 1,300.
Included with the new letter is one dated April 4 addressed to
"Customs and Immigration" and from "Concerned Citizens of the United
States."
In the April letter, the writers say their group "observes these
individuals in our neighborhoods, driving on our streets, working in
our stores, attending our schools and entering our public welfare
buildings."
"We then spend the time and effort needed to gather information along
with legal Mexican nationals who infiltrate their social networks and
help us obtain the necessary information we need to add them to our
list," the letter says.
A phone message left for the on-duty ICE spokesman was not
immediately
returned.

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