Thread: Anti-immigration groups split on Utah list

Anti-immigration groups split on Utah list
By Liz Goodwin

After an anonymous group of anti-immigration activists distributed a list of some 1,300 names and personal information purportedly belonging to Utah residents who are in the country illegally, no one is rushing forward to take credit for an act of information vigilantism that is against Utah state law. The list, which went out to state and federal enforcement officials as well as to local media outlets and state political leaders, came with a note urging that all the people included on it be deported — even though follow-up press reports have indicated that some of the names belong to legal residents of the United States.

Local and national anti-illegal-immigration groups tell Yahoo! News they are not responsible for the move. But the groups don't uniformly condemn publishing the anonymous accusations — which in turn bespeaks a revealing split in just how far different groups are willing to go in their push for more aggressive enforcement against illegal immigrants.


Ron Mortensen, co-founder of the Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration, says he objects to the list because there is "no justification" for releasing someone's private information. His group is pushing for the state to pass an immigration law modeled on Arizona's next year, and says the controversy over the list is "not helpful" for the movement.

Utah Minuteman Project co-chair Eli Cawley, however, was not so concerned about privacy violations — though he also said his group was not behind the list. "It's probably against some privacy laws," he said on local radio station KSL. "But I think in the interest of preserving our civilization, preserving our society, and protecting the people of the state of Utah, I think that's a greater interest than protecting the privacy of some individuals."

The list contained some Social Security numbers, addresses, dates of birth, and phone numbers of people — including 200 children — it accused of being in the country illegally. A letter from the anonymous group Concerned Citizens for the United States attached to the list also pointed out that six women on the list were pregnant and should be deported immediately. (ABC News has posted the letter here.)

Bob Dane, a spokesman for Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), backed away from the vigilante tactic. He told Yahoo! News that his organization encourages people to report illegal immigrants to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tip line. "If citizens want to help fight illegal immigration, use the tip line. And pressure politicians to enforce the laws," he said. An attorney for FAIR's legal arm helped craft the Arizona immigration law.

Meanwhile, William Gheen, president of the anti-illegal-immigration political action committee Americans for Legal Immigration, said the people behind the list are "heroes" who are expressing frustration with a lack of federal immigration enforcement.

Mortensen and Gheen said ICE's tip line is "useless" because of the agency's policy of prioritizing the investigation of illegal immigrants who could be a threat to society. An ICE spokeswoman told the Associated Press that the agency focuses "first on those dangerous convicted criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, not sweeps or raids to target undocumented immigrants indiscriminately."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20 ... -utah-list

This is the work of low down anti American, pro illegal vindictive losers and I for one condemn this sort of activity.
We believe in the rule of law.
Not witch hunts

not sweeps or raids to target undocumented immigrants indiscriminately."

They need to!
They have created this big MESS and we are the ones paying for it all.

We dont know who is behind this. It could be a pro illegal alien group that sent names of legal citizens or immigrants in, or it could be someone with access to information that has actually reported illegals.

The bottom line is that people are going to do more and more to stop the illegals as long as the Executive Branch refuses to do it's job!

I do NOT appreciate Liz Goodwin sticking her opinion into the lead of this article representing it as fact.

She says "no one is rushing forward to take credit for an act of information vigilantism that is against Utah state law".

And who exactly has determined this is a violation of Utah state law? I've heard no official of any court or police department make that determination yet and since we know very little about who made this list, who is on this list, where they got the information, and even if the info is correct, it is a bit early for reporters to proclaim guilt.

And on the issue of reporters proclaiming guilt, that is NEVER APPROPRIATE. It is not Liz Goodwin's or Yahoo's role or job in our American society to be the judge and jury over things like this.

Furthermore, notice how there is a massive rush to blame and criminalize an American here instead of the illegal aliens?

These reporters are acting like the people that made this list have done something worse that illegally immigrating to the country.

While I feel that if the people that made this broke any state laws they should face justice, that desire for justice is equally applied to illegal aliens that should face justice and be required to leave our nation as current FEDERAL law indicates.

If those are illegal aliens on that sheet and if they prosecute an American for the list but not the illegals then it will be a clear sign that our governments have turned against Americans on behalf of illegals.

And as far as "vigilantism" goes, turning lists over to the proper authorities is nothing compared to the madness and mayhem this nation is suffering with all the rapes, murders, robberies, and billion dollar tax resource thievery Americans are suffering from illegal immigration.

Things are going to get much crazier and some people are going to feel justified acting out much more aggressively in this lawless and biased environment created by Bush, Obama, and the other illegal alien supporters.

There's a chance that the person or person's that made that list are trying to do the right thing and help with immigration enforcements.

And what is the big deal anyway about someone's name and information being on a list sent to authorities and the media that are not going to do anything inappropriate with the info?

If someone sent my name and info to authorities and the media, I'd be a little concerned about my Date of Birth and SS number being on the list but otherwise I would not care because I'm not breaking the law and I'm not a trespassing and nation stealing illegal alien!

One thing I do like about this story is that regardless of if one of the pro illegal alien activists or one of our side's activist did this, the media playing it up is going to put more illegals on the run!

This story sends a message they are hearing more and more and that message is GET OUT OF AMERICA NOW!

W

"Meanwhile, William Gheen, president of the anti-illegal-immigration political action committee Americans for Legal Immigration, said the people behind the list are "heroes" who are expressing frustration with a lack of federal immigration enforcement."

What if my name ,my sisters name, my brothers name?
Who has the right?
There is due proses even for the lowest form of man in America.
It sometimes might not get it right, but our justice system up until perhaps the ignorant, idiotic actions of our current administration.
Is American made. We can win with out compromising that which makes us great.

"If someone sent my name and info to authorities and the media, I'd be a little concerned about my Date of Birth and SS number being on the list but otherwise I would not care because I'm not breaking the law and I'm not a trespassing and nation stealing illegal alien!"

Hell W, they have all that anyway.LOL......
Your William Gheen for gods sake...LOL
I still love ya man.
Lets kick some pro Illegal but!

If they really are illegal aliens then I presume they listed their "stolen" social security numbers?

Or perhaps their anchor babies numbers?

W: I questioned the “illegalâ€

Well, sending a list to authorities and media that you believe to be illegal aliens is nothing compared to Obama's administration having Janet Napolitano put out briefings to police officers across American claiming Americans concerned about illegal immigration, taxes, abortion, or Federal finances could be likely to kill cops and blow up buildings.

I'd pick a harmless list sent to cops and newspapers any day over that evil tripe Obama and Napolitano have been putting out.

W

Related

List claims to expose illegal immigrants in Utah
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-205650.html

List Prompts Anxious Calls From Hispanics in Utah
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1089430.html

List worries both sides of immigration debate
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-205827.html