Immigrant nonprofit may lose licenses

PHOENIX — Arizona officials have moved to revoke the licenses for a nonprofit that houses immigrant children after it missed a deadline to show that all its employees passed background checks.

Texas-based Southwest Key demonstrated an “astonishingly flippant attitude” toward the state’s concerns about delayed background checks for workers at its eight Arizona shelters, the state Department of Health said in a letter Wednesday.

A state investigation this summer prompted by several reports of sexual abuse of immigrant children in Arizona found that some shelters had not conducted fingerprint checks for all employees.

Southwest Key was supposed to provide information updating Arizona on the required fingerprint checks by Sept. 14 but didn’t do so on time. When it did, the spreadsheets it provided were out of context and impossible for the health department to decipher, said Dr. Cara Christ, the agency’s director.

“Southwest Key’s lack of ability to deliver a simple report on the critical protections these children have against dangerous felons demonstrate an utter disregard for Arizona law,” Christ said in a letter to the nonprofit.

Southwest Key has apologized and is working with the state to ensure it never misses a deadline again, spokesman Jeff Eller said.

“We have requested the opportunity to meet with (health department) leadership as soon as possible and know that having a strong partnership with the agency is incumbent upon us,” Eller said in a statement. “We remain committed to meeting all Arizona licensing requirements — both required by law and voluntary — and doing so in a timely manner.”

Arizona has filed notices of intent to revoke the licenses, which can be appealed. Southwest Key has several options to ensure it keeps its 13 Arizona licenses, such as requesting a hearing with a judge.