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SALT LAKE CITY -- Some undocumented immigrants who came forward in a criminal investigation now are facing deportation. They say they had a deal to stay in the country.
In all, attorneys Leonor Perretta and Aaron Tarin say there are about 20 families caught up in this alleged scam, all of whom were here on visitor visas and were promised a legal path to a green card.
That didn't happen, and Tarin says their deportation is sending a mixed message. "The bottom line is that immigrants are scared," he said. "They're not going to take a chance and wonder if the person that they're going to is going to deport them or not."
The immigrants say they were conned by a Millcreek woman.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, more than two dozen affidavits from alleged victims say the woman conned $4,000 a piece from undocumented immigrants trying to get legal visas. She has not been charged.
The immigrants say after they came forward about the alleged scam, the deportation process began.
The Tribune reports the people were promised work visas in exchange for their testimony. But the visas never came. Four years later, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) came to their homes and arrested them, saying the criminal investigation lacked evidence and they were being deported.
Several local police agencies, even those who say they support Senate Bill 81, have pledged they won't prosecute victims of crime who come forward. Tarin and Perretta say they often encounter people who are still afraid to do so. Perretta is especially concerned about victims of domestic violence.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency won't comment specifically on the case, but they did forward a statement: "In terms of accommodations for illegal alien witnesses identified during investigations, ICE evaluates each case on an individual basis and determines the appropriate course of action based upon the specific circumstances of the case and the options available under our laws."
Tarin says ICE does have digression and can help witnesses and others obtain visas if they want to. He hopes the families involved can at least stay long enough for them to try to recover money from the woman they say promised them green cards and charged thousands of dollars for her services.
The woman, who is not an attorney, has not been charged. In fact, Tarin says, he saw her in immigration court this morning.
Compiled with contributions from Mary Richards and Marc Giauque.
