Jacob friends avoided 'easy' illegal route

SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah County — With a snap of his fingers, Oscar Silva illustrated how easy it would have been to take the "illegal" route.

But instead of getting a fake green card or false Social Security number, Silva said Sunday, he and his family persevered on a complex and often difficult legal path. Now, Silva said, he has earned a real green card, and his application for citizenship is being processed.

"It was a very hard decision," he said, but "we never did anything illegal."

Silva said he was stunned to learn 3rd District Republican congressional candidate John Jacob, who helped him stay the legal course, has been accused of illegally hiring both Silva and his wife, Marta — especially given the terms of financial assistance Jacob provided to the Silva family:

"He said, 'I will help you with anything. I ask only one condition — you always stay in legal status,' " Silva recalled.

Last week, allegations arose that Jacob hired the Chilean couple while they were ineligible to work in the United States. Jacob has maintained the extent of their work was part-time payback for his generosity in sponsoring Oscar Silva's education. Immigration attorneys had helped ensure everything was legal, Jacob has said.

However, in the days leading up to the June 27 primary, questions still remain about the accusations against the candidate, who has made cracking down on illegal immigration a key part of his platform against five-time Rep. Chris Cannon , R-Utah.

It has been alleged that Jacob paid Marta Araya de Silva and Oscar Silva in cash because they were not eligible to work in the United States.

Jacob has denied doing any such thing. He said he sponsored Oscar Silva's nursing education from 2000 to 2004 and helped the couple with living expenses. The couple was here legally with student visas, Jacob said, though no documentation was provided.

"I've done everything in my power to help them so they will do it the right way," Jacob said last week. "To have some people who have become very dear friends dragged into this shows how low some people will go in politics."

An immigration attorney helped Marta Silva set up a company, The Office Specialist of Utah, to which Jacob made payments totaling about $109,515. And Jacob maintains there were no cash payments for her work. Silva's daughter, Cristina Hammond, has backed up Jacob's account.

Silva also supported Jacob on Sunday, saying he did nothing more than "help somebody who really needed it."

Silva said he was introduced to Jacob by officials with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Silva had gone to them for help when he ran into financial trouble. Silva said he and his wife never worked for Jacob.