Latino advisers warn state has big trust problem

SALT LAKE CITY — The state government suddenly has a huge trust problem with Latinos, members of the Governor's Hispanic/Latino Advisory Council warned Thursday.

That isn't surprising since the state acknowledges that two rogue Department of Workforce Services employees compiled a list of 1,300 alleged illegal immigrants from its databases and distributed it publicly. But what may be surprising is what some Hispanics think the state is doing now after release of the list.

For example, council member Olga de la Cruz said many Latinos believe the department itself has been distributing copies of "the list" to a variety of groups to help tell people whether they are on it, which they believe threatens private information of people listed.

Council member Carlos Linares said others believe the department is using the list to prosecute illegal immigrants on it who may have used bogus Social Security numbers, or that the state will use data it collects about illegal immigrants to help deport them.

Dave Lewis, the department's communications director, said those beliefs are false and a bit surprising to his agency. Lewis met with the advisory council Thursday to hear what sorts of problems members see and to solicit advice on how to fix the department's image and foster trust.

He noted that "the list" was sent to the news media and law enforcement agencies by the workers who compiled it. Lewis said the department initially did not have a copy but obtained one to research who might have compiled it — and caught the culprits in three days. He said the department has never shared its copy with others.

Lewis said the department researched some Social Security numbers included in "the list" to determine if some people were U.S. citizens or legal residents because of allegations that all people on the list were illegal immigrants.

He said the department does not intend to use information from the list to prosecute anyone. However, the attorney general's office has said it will investigate and perhaps prosecute any Social Security fraud it finds related to the list.

Lewis also said federal and state law prohibits sharing any information it collects with any other agency. He said he hoped that the department's efforts to fire the two employees involved would have made that clear.

"There needs to be on the wall, as you enter, there for all clients and employees, a huge sign saying that you will not give information about immigration status to anyone," said council member Roger Tsai, who is also an immigration attorney.

Several council members complained the state has not made forceful enough statements to create that assurance.