MALDEF Condemns Intimidation of Latinos in Utah
Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF President and General Counsel, condemns cowardly intimidation tactics and calls for full investigation
July 14, 2010
LOS ANGELES, CA – Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF President and General Counsel, issued the following statement in response to the revelation that an anonymous group has compiled and publicly disseminated the names and information of 1,300 Utah residents, most of whom possess Latino surnames. The list was mailed to federal and state officials – including law enforcement agencies – and various media outlets:
“MALDEF condemns the vigilante intimidation epitomized by the list of alleged undocumented immigrants sent to federal and state authorities and media in Utah. This cowardly anonymous submission surely represents a new low; it demonstrates complete disrespect for the constitutional and human rights values that our nation has represented.
“As a nation and a people, we must resoundingly reject divisive and discriminatory actions like this. Those who govern – at both the federal and state levels – must step in and investigate those who created the list because the release of the list appears to violate the most significant privacy protections that we as a people cherish. Federal and state authorities should thoroughly investigate any violation of constitutional or statutory protections in the compilation of the discriminatory list, and prosecute those involved.”
For all media inquiries, please contact Laura Rodriguez.
