New York Quits Secure Communities

Feenmi · 06-01-2011, 06:20 PM

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WASHINGTON -- New York will no longer participate in the Secure Communities immigration enforcement program, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday, making the state the second to rescind its agreement with federal immigration authorities.

"There are concerns about the implementation of the program as well as its impact on families, immigrant communities and law enforcement in New York," Cuomo wrote in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security. "As a result, New York is suspending its participation in the program."

The state will review whether the program is meeting its stated goal of deporting convicted felons, according to a press release from the governor's office. "Based on evidence to date, it appears the program in New York is failing in this regard and is actually undermining law enforcement," the governor's office said.

Reps. Jose E. Serrano (D-N.Y.) and Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), along with a number of immigration advocacy groups, had lobbied Cuomo to stop the state's participation in Secure Communities, arguing the enforcement program causes racial profiling and allows non-criminal undocumented immigrants to be targeted by police for deportation. A petition asking Cuomo to terminate the state's relationship with the program had garnered more than 6,300 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon.

But New York may have difficulty blocking information from going to DHS for immigration enforcement purposes, part of broader confusion over whether DHS allows states or communities to opt out of Secure Communities at all.

The fingerprint-sharing program is based on a network of agreements between state, local and federal actors. States sign a memorandum of understanding with DHS that says they will allow the agency access to fingerprints taken by local police. The FBI, which receives the fingerprints to scree for fugitives and criminal records, then shares the prints with DHS.

But DHS has evaded questions about how communities and states can block fingerprints from being shared between the FBI and DHS. Although immigration enforcement agencies initially referred to the program as voluntary and dependent on agreements with local communities, DHS officials changed course last fall, announcing that counties within states that agreed to join the program would be forced to participate.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, announced on May 4 that his state had terminated its memorandum of understanding with the Department of Homeland Security over the program. Yet after Quinn's announcement, DHS confirmed to HuffPost that it would continue to use fingerprints taken in the state for immigration enforcement.

DHS officials did not respond for requests for comment about how the agency would respond to the New York governor's decision.

Meanwhile, DHS inspector general Charles Edwards, the top oversight official for the agency, is gearing up to complete an investigation into the various misstatements over whether the program was mandatory. In May, the agency confirmed in a letter to Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the House immigration subcommittee, that it would investigate contradictory statements over Secure Communities in the fall. On May 18, Lofgren responded that she wanted the investigation to begin immediately, in order to quickly sort out confusion over the program.

Immigration advocacy groups are working to halt the spread of the program, which the Obama administration plans to implement nationwide by 2013.

Cuomo's decision could help other states reconsider their decisions to join the program, said Pablo Alvarado of National Day Laborer's Organizing Network, part of the coalition that requested a number of documents from DHS that show the contradiction between various statements it made about Secure Communities. Pro-immigrant groups are lobbying Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, not to join the program.

"New York joins a growing chorus of state opposition to an ill-conceived, dangerous, and dishonestly-executed program," he said in a statement. "The more local law enforcement and elected officials learn about SCOMM, the more they have have opposed it."

Immigration advocate in New York also applauded Cuomo's decision, saying it could help keep immigrants safer.

"Cuomo's initiative is on the right side of history by rejecting overly broad enforcement policies that divide and discriminate against immigrants, undermine law enforcement and impose burdensome costs on our government," Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer said in a statement. "I am grateful that Governor Cuomo has worked closely with immigrant communities and other stakeholders to bring this needed change and keep New York at the forefront as an immigrant city and state."

RESPONSE FROM ICE:

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UPDATE 5:40 p.m. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to HuffPost that it will continue to use fingerprints from New York for immigration enforcement, based on its agreement with the FBI.

"When it comes to enforcing our nation's immigration laws, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is focusing its limited resources on those in our country illegally who have also broken criminal laws," a spokeswoman for ICE, part of DHS, said in a statement. "Secure Communities is a critical part of this approach and is an information sharing partnership between two federal agencies â€“ ICE and the FBI."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_869969.html

LifeDreamer · 06-01-2011, 07:01 PM

That's good for New York and it's dreamer people..

Boulevard · 06-01-2011, 08:52 PM

It's funny how Obama is not doing SH** to make sure that the deportation of undocumented people without felonies does not occur. Again, the people who stand up for Obama and say that he doesn't have time to deal with CIR need to wake up and smell the carne asada. He doesn't have time to deal with CIR (uh huh sure). But, he is complicit in enforcing this program. Ironic.

hollisterco · 06-01-2011, 09:10 PM

obama isnt serious, he was serious when he did healthcare he even looked like an asshole at times forcing shit thru and finally forcing the vote thanks to his supermajoritys, but when it came to immigration he didnt do anything for 2 years, when he promisted it would be in 100 days, i hope republicans wake up and see that this is up for grabs, im sure with something like this many minorities will flock to the new friendly party, dems just aint appreciating the votes

LifeDreamer · 06-01-2011, 09:21 PM

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Originally Posted by Boulevard

It's funny how Obama is not doing SH** to make sure that the deportation of undocumented people without felonies does not occur. Again, the people who stand up for Obama and say that he doesn't have time to deal with CIR need to wake up and smell the carne asada. He doesn't have time to deal with CIR (uh huh sure). But, he is complicit in enforcing this program. Ironic.

I love carne asada... But I think it's useless to argue about it now.. What's done is done.. I think the second term will be the real judge for Obama..

YesWeCan · 06-02-2011, 03:20 AM

I've loved New York since I visited when I was 11. Every time I read something like this, my heart swells with even more love for NY. I can't wait to live there

Boulevard · 04:02 PM

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Originally Posted by LifeDreamer

I love carne asada... But I think it's useless to argue about it now.. What's done is done.. I think the second term will be the real judge for Obama..

I understand. What done is done. Pero este guey por lo menos puede dejar de chingar. If he is not going to act on immigration reform because of the lower house, that's fine. But, he can at least stop this F***en program. This program is causing tremendous fear in our community. If you and/or your parents have to drive to do their things, you understand my anger over this stupid program. You risk deportation for minor traffic violations. Overall, instead of helping, he is f***ing pushing us against the wall.

hollisterco · 06-02-2011, 07:00 PM

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Originally Posted by Boulevard

I understand. What done is done. Pero este guey por lo menos puede dejar de chingar. If he is not going to act on immigration reform because of the lower house, that's fine. But, he can at least stop this F***en program. This program is causing tremendous fear in our community. If you and/or your parents have to drive to do their things, you understand my anger over this stupid program. You risk deportation for minor traffic violations. Overall, instead of helping, he is f***ing pushing us against the wall.

thats true, or then leave it in but use it for the reasons it was really meant for, not for deporting maids for not having a license

LifeDreamer · 06-02-2011, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boulevard

I understand. What done is done. Pero este guey por lo menos puede dejar de chingar. If he is not going to act on immigration reform because of the lower house, that's fine. But, he can at least stop this F***en program. This program is causing tremendous fear in our community. If you and/or your parents have to drive to do their things, you understand my anger over this stupid program. You risk deportation for minor traffic violations. Overall, instead of helping, he is f***ing pushing us against the wall.

Dam!!! It's like the world is going to shit!!! I guess it gets harder every day...

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New York Quits Secure Communities