Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
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.
"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."
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.
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
