Anonymous letter lists supposed illegal immigrants living in Utah

[Jewel-8 21]

Anonymous letter lists supposed illegal immigrants living in Utah

July 12th, 2010 @ 10:00pm

By Nicole Gonzales

SALT LAKE CITY -- KSL News has obtained a list of supposed illegal immigrants living in Utah. The letter was sent out by an unnamed group that wants these people immediately deported.

The letter claims to have been sent to the governor, state lawmakers, the Department of Homeland Security and to most law enforcement agencies. We should make it clear that we don't know who it's from or if it's credible.

Gomez, Martinez, Palacios and Rodriguez are just a few Latino last names that appear on the list of supposed illegal immigrants.

The letter asks for the deportation of all the individuals listed. Click here to read the entire letter. "What if somebody isn't? What if your name, my name [was on the list]? Utahns should be very scared tonight," says Tony Yapias, with Proyecto Latino de Utah.

The unnamed authors of the 30-page document claim "the total count is over 1,300 names" on this list. It also contains addresses, phone numbers, birth dates and some Social Security numbers.

Yapias thinks someone working for the state of Utah leaked this information.

"It appears that they are state workers," Yapias says. "Nobody else would have this type of information. Somebody in the state offices has this information."

In the letter, they say, "Our group observes these individuals in our neighborhoods, driving on our streets, working in our stores, attending our schools and entering our public welfare buildings."

They go on to say, "We welcome any person into our country who has come here legally and is totally self-sufficient."

Tony Yapias, with Proyecto Latino de Utah, talks with KSL's Nicole Gonzales The letter dates back to April 4, but several agencies haven't received it, including the Utah Attorney General's Office.

The Weber County Sheriff's Office got it in the mail Monday afternoon. It has no idea if it's accurate and is giving it no credibility yet. The sheriff said he is leaving it to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to investigate.

Whether or not the list is real, it shows what this debate is coming to.

"It just goes beyond anything we have ever seen in the state," Yapias says.

The newly-formed Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration says it had nothing to do with this list. In fact, leaders say they were unaware of the letter until we informed them.

[Jewel-8 21]

Really kind of a strange thing. People with all points of view on the issue are going a bit nuts right now.

I don't know if it is really people working for state that are obtaining info illegally or if this is a scary group that is paying people in the latino community to add names and info to a list.

[mawilson 2,133]

Click here to read the entire letter.

Click where? Where's the damn source?

[Jewel-8 21]

Click where? Where's the damn source?

Woops! My mistake.

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=11547420&nid=148

The letter is here.

[mawilson 2,133]

Thanks!

Hmm.... it's just the cover letter, the actual list of names isn't there. Damn.

[Jewel-8 21]

Thanks!

Hmm.... it's just the cover letter, the actual list of names isn't there. Damn.

No, my understanding was that it is names, addresses, birth dates and other information. Definitely not something that should be published.

I wonder if people will be in a rush to pack up and move now?