"We live in a topsy-turvey nation and this story should anger all Americans. Suddenly our nation is prosecuting patriots while protecting lawbreakers," said a former NYPD police officer and private security firm owner.
The Utah state employees, suspected of blowing the whistle on more than a thousand illegal immigrants living in the state, have been placed on administrative leave and will likely be criminally charged, according attorneys from a non-partisan, public-interest group.
Last week a list of 1,300 suspected illegal aliens was circulated anonymously to various state and federal agencies as well as media outlets, according to a statement from the Washington, DC-based Judicial Watch.
A letter was enclosed with the 29-page list that included the illegal aliens’ phone numbers, addresses and birth dates. The letter, signed "Concerned Citizens of the United States," alleged that they "observed these individuals in our neighborhoods, driving on our streets, working in our stores, attending our schools and entering our public welfare buildings."
Copies of the list and letter was sent to law enforcement agencies, news media outlets and Utah state lawmakers by the group, who demanded that those named be deported.
Calling it the “deplorable” work of a “small rogue group,” Utah Governor Gary Herbert quickly launched an investigation and vowed to punish any public employees responsible for participating in blowing the whistle.
So far two workers with the Utah Department of Workforce Services have been suspended and at least eight others are under investigation. All face criminal charges for violating state and federal privacy laws, according to the governor.
"We live in a topsy-turvey nation and this story should anger all Americans. Suddenly our nation is prosecuting patriots while protecting lawbreakers," said former NYPD police officer and private security firm owner Bill Fitzgerald.
Latino Project director Tony Yapias told Reuters that his Utah office was "inundated with calls from concerned Hispanics asking if they were on the list."
Utah Democrat Party officials are proud of their protecting illegal immigrants and providing them with endless public benefits, including discounted tuition at public colleges and universities as well as other perks not afforded under federal law.
Two of the state’s largest cities -- Salt Lake City and Provo -- have official sanctuary policies that forbid public employees or law enforcement officers from inquiring about a resident’s immigration status, according to Judicial Watch.
Earlier this year Utah proudly became the nation’s first state to offer a special class of driver’s licenses for illegal aliens who won’t be ineligible to obtain the cards when new federal security standards kick in. For years, Utah was one of only a handful of states to offer illegal immigrants driver’s license.
However, some Utah lawmakers plan to introduce legislation similar to the new law in Arizona, which requires state and local police to determine the immigration status of anyone they encounter in the course of their police work whom they reasonably suspect of being in the country illegally.
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a columnist for The Examiner (examiner.com) and New Media Alliance (thenma.org). In addition, he's a blogger for the Cheyenne, Wyoming Fox News Radio affiliate KGAB (www.kgab.com). Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty.
He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer and columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. Kouri appears regularly as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Fox News Channel, Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, etc.
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Comments
I've contacted the state office in my disgust...how Un-American
But how very New World Order. Welcome to the North American Union. As always, we have to follow the money to make any sense of this stuff. Who stands to benefit from American loss of sovereignty? These are the people who need to be eliminated.
If your argument is going to be in fair of law and order, then it's only logical that you follow law and order yourself.
In their zeal to "take the law into their own hands", these state workers violated laws themselves. By breaking a law, no matter how noble the intent, you put yourself on the side of the law breakers.
The most tragic thing is that people who were here legally were named in that list. I can't even imagine how upset I would be if I were wrongfully accused of something by state workers, who are supposed to protect that private information, simply because I had a "hispanic sounding name."
I understand the frustration of these State workers and of people who seek to defend them, but there is no defense. "Two wrongs don't make a right."
A question has to be asked regarding this matter. That question is: Why?
Why did these state workers feel the need to make a list in secret? Why should any American feel the slightest bit afraid to speak out against something they feel is wrong and know is illegal? But now it is the Americans that find themselves in trouble for doing something about it. That is very dangerous water to be in --for all Americans.
If the state workers broke the law then maybe it is the law that needs to be changed; or the leadership; or both.
But let’s face the truth here. America is no longer the same country that many of us grew up in. Like it says in the article: “We live in a topsy-turvy nation” today. Everything is upside down and sometimes backwards. So why should it be strange to see Americans in trouble for doing something about what they know is illegal?
They did not suspect these people broke the law. They knew it but were afraid to make their list right out in the open. There is
The article is factually misleading. The list did not blow "the whistle on over a thousand illegal immigrants", since the list had legal immigrants on the list.
Please correct the mistake in the article.
Cat,
If the "whistle blowers" had provided legally acquired information that was 100% accurate, maybe we would be talking about somebody else.
Everybody has a right to report wrongdoing, including illegal immigration. But you don't have a right to break the law in doing so.
These employees, by the sensitive nature of their employment, were bound to confidentiality and privacy laws, which they broke, and on top of that they screwed up by wrongfully naming people who were in the country legally. That's a double no-no.
People need to remember that "illegal" is not a temporary status. Many who are here legally, came in illegally and adjusted their status through amnesty, family or marriage. Can you really be surprised that they would identify with those who are still illegal and from their same countries of origin? What do you expect will come from all this hateful rhetoric that's being used when these people become legal residents (even if citizenship is denied)?
Oh, wow, Josh makes a statement and demands Examiner correct their error(?). Is that what they do at the Daily Kos or Media Matters? They correct an article because some Bozo doesn't like it? And who said there were "legal immigants" on that list, Iono? Me thinks you and Josh are involved somehow.
that is crazy i know where there is a illegal living and he is also a convicted felon i was going to report him but now i am afraid they will turn on me what do we do
i also had seen a picture in the most wanted ice list that i thought i saw one of those too here in waco texas but it sounds like it might not be a good idea to turn them in it might come back at me if i am wrong i was just going to try and help also we are excepting pesos now in waco texas
To those of you who feel that the state department is right, especially lono, this is OUR COUNTRY. We were born and raised here or are here LEGALLY. Our current administration is a total failure and refuses to represent the people, instead pursue an agenda bent on destroying this country. When the time comes to pick up our arms and defend it from ALL ENEMIES, you may find your name on that list. Stand up for your rights or you may find this a modern version of Germany or Russia.
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