Los Angeles , California ( CNN ) -- The hot-button issue of illegal immigration erupted in the California race for governor Wednesday as a Mexican housekeeper once employed by GOP nominee Meg Whitman alleged that she had been `` exploited , disrespected , humiliated and emotionally and financially abused '' by the former eBay CEO . Nicky Diaz Santillan , who worked for Whitman for nine years , was fired in June 2009 `` for what appeared to be political reasons involving Ms. Whitman 's decision to run for governor , '' famed attorney Gloria Allred claimed in a news conference . The Whitman campaign immediately shot back , providing immigration and IRS forms it said Santillan signed stating she was a legal resident of the United States when she first applied for employment as a housekeeper in 2000 . The campaign included a copy of a Social Security card and California driver 's license it said Santillan had given Whitman . Whitman , in an interview Wednesday afternoon , said she relied on the employment agency that provided Santillan to verify she was a legal resident . `` As soon as we found that she was an illegal immigrant , we did what we had to do as an employer , which was to let her go , '' Whitman said . `` But all of the documentation that we had said that she was legal . '' Allred alleged that Whitman should have known Santillan was an undocumented worker , because several letters , dating back to 2002 , were sent to her about the maid 's `` mismatched '' Social Security number . A copy of that letter will be released to the news media Thursday , Allred said . `` Nicky also alleges that for several more years , Ms. Whitman continued to receive the letters from the Social Security Administration Office regarding the mismatch in the Social Security numbers , '' Allred said . `` She also alleges that she saw these letters after they were thrown into the trash . '' Allred claimed that back in August 2000 , Santillan `` was sent by an employment agency to interview with Meg Whitman for a job as a housekeeper . ... Nicky alleges that Ms. Whitman never asked if [ she ] was here legally , '' Allred said . `` The inconvenient truth of the hypocrisy of Meg Whitman as illustrated by her employment of an undocumented worker and her exploitation of her was going to be revealed , because Nicky wanted to be legalized , '' Allred said . `` Nicky was terminated in a sudden , cruel and heartless way , '' she added . Allred said Santillan intends to file a claim for unfairly denied wages . `` When I met with Meg Whitman on June 20 , 2009 , I asked her for assistance , '' Santillan said . `` I explained to her why I came to the United States . I explained that I was married and our economic situation in Mexico was very bad . We had no job , no food , no place to live and for that reason we made the decision to come here . '' `` Ms. Whitman just laughed , '' Santillan said . Whitman , Santillan claimed , also blamed herself for failing to previously ask for any documentation . Whitman , according to Santillan , indicated four days later that she could n't help the former housekeeper . `` She said , ' I can not help you and do not say anything to my children . I will tell them you already have a new job and that you want to go to school and from now on , you do n't know me and I do not know you . You have never seen me and I have never seen you . Do you understand me ? ' '' Allred also outlined what she said were abusive labor practices by Whitman , including not reimbursing the maid for mileage when she ran errands and not allowing her maternity leave . `` When Nicky indicated to Ms. Whitman in March 2005 , that she needed to take a medical leave of absence for pregnancy , she alleges that she was told that unless she herself obtained someone to replace her , that her job might not be there for her when she returned . '' Whitman has previously beat back allegations she was involved in a 2007 shoving altercation with an employee at eBay 's California headquarters after the Silicon Valley chief felt unprepared for an upcoming media interview . The incident reportedly led to a $ 200,000 settlement . Responding to the press conference , Whitman campaign laywer Tom Hiltchak told reporters that , when hired in 2000 , Santillan gave Whitman false documentation , including IRS forms , a Social Security card , a California drivers license , and Department of Justice immigration forms in which the stated she was a lawful alien . When Santillan told Whitman in 2009 that the documents were false and she was illegal , Whitman `` immediately suspended and then terminated '' Santillan 's employment , according to the campaign . Rob Stutzman , a senior advisor to the campaign , told reporters that Whitman `` is very sad and has deep sorrow '' over the incident . `` She was , in many ways , a member of our extended family and I feel badly for her , '' Whitman said . `` She 's being manipulated . '' Whitman spokeswoman Andrea Jones Rivera ripped Allred , claiming the high-profile attorney is merely attempting to smear the California Republican . `` With the polls tied , it comes as no surprise that the morning after a successful debate for Meg that the sleaze machine of the political left is now focused on the politics of personal destruction . Gloria Allred is a shameful manipulator and the timing of today 's news conference so close to the election should serve as a warning to Californians that they are witnessing dirty political smears at their worst , '' Rivera said in a statement . Stutzman said it was `` curious '' that Santillan would bring forward allegations against Whitman a mere 35 days before the election . It 's even `` more curious , '' he said , that the news conference featuring the former housekeeper was being orchestrated by Allred , who has a `` clear relationship '' with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jerry Brown . A CNN check of Allred 's political contributions showed she has donated extensively to Democratic candidates . The allegations are part of a `` post-debate smoke bomb '' to try and obscure Brown 's `` bizarre behavior '' after Tuesday night 's debate against Whitman , Stutzman claimed . It is part of the politics of `` personal destruction , '' he said . With a sardonic laugh , Stutzman asked reporters , `` What 's a California governors race without Gloria Allred inserting herself into it ? '' Whitman is currently neck and neck with Brown in the polls . The issue of immigration looms large in California , as in other states along the Mexican border . Whitman has come out against Arizona 's controversial new anti-illegal immigration law , as well as California 's controversial Proposition 187 . However , she supports tough crackdowns on employers who hire illegal immigrants , requiring employers `` pay a fine and have their business license suspended for 10 days '' for first-time offenses , with steeper fines and penalties for repeat offenders .
NEW : Whitman says she relied on an employment agency to verify housekeeper 's status . The Associated Press contributed to this report. Whitman campaign releases documents it says show ex-housekeeper lied about status . The Mexican ex-housekeeper claims emotional and financial abuse by GOP candidate .