REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
A list of 1,300 accused undocumented immigrants was circulated around Utah this week, frightening the state’s Hispanic population and causing a state investigation.
The list contained Social Security numbers, birth dates and contact information for each person. Workplaces are listed, as well as the alleged immigrants’ children and due dates for pregnant women. Most of the names are of Hispanic origin. The accuracy of the list is unknown; the Salt Lake Tribune attempted to call several phone numbers on the list, which had been disconnected.
An anonymous group circulated the list to various media outlets and government offices, including a letter that called for officials to immediately deport those listed. The letter included:
“We … 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.”
Those who made the list may come under fire themselves. Utah authorities are now attempting to find out if any state employees produced the list. Creating the list may have been illegal under state law if information was obtained through private state and local databases.