Jun 2 2011

New York Opts Out of Secure Communities Program

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this week that his state will no longer participate in the Secure Communities program. New York is the second state to choose not to participate in this federal immigration enforcement program. “There are concerns about the implementation of the program as well as its impact on families, immigrant communities and law enforcement in New York," wrote Cuomo in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security. "As a result, New York is suspending its participation in the program."

New York will review whether the Secure Communities program is successfully meeting its goal to deport convicted felons, stated Cuomo’s office in a press release issued this week as well. The statement also commented that it appeared Secure Communities is not only failing in deporting convicted felons, but is also “undermining law enforcement.”

Secure Communities is an information-sharing program between state, local and federal enforcement agencies. It gives the FBI access to fingerprints taken by local police; the FBI then shares this information with Homeland Security.