MA. won't sign onto immigration program (Secure Community)

Mass. won't sign onto immigration check program

By Steve Leblanc
Associated Press / June 6, 2011

BOSTON—Gov. Deval Patrick has decided Massachusetts won't participate in a federal program that checks the immigration status of people who are arrested.

In a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Massachusetts Public Safety Secretary Mary Beth Heffernan said Patrick has decided not to sign any memorandum of understanding for the state to participate in the federal Secure Communities program.

Patrick had previously said he believed the state might have no choice but to participate in the program.

Immigrant advocacy groups had urged Patrick not to sign onto the program, saying it could discourage immigrants from reporting crimes while encouraging police to practice racial profiling.

Defenders of the program say it only targets immigrants arrested for committing violent crimes and is not an effort to enforce federal immigration laws.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massac ... k_program/

RELATED

US overrules Patrick on immigration
Says state must join program; effort deports criminal offenders

Globe Staff / June 7, 2011

The US government will force the state of Massachusetts to join a controversial federal program to detect and deport illegal immigrants, despite Governor Deval Patrick’s refusal to endorse it, a senior Homeland Security official said yesterday.

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-240171.html

Advocates want Boston to end immigration checks

Advocates want Boston to end immigration checks


BOSTON—Immigrant activists are now looking at Boston police to end its participation in a federal program that checks the immigration status of people who are arrested a day after Gov. Deval Patrick decided Massachusetts wouldn't join.


Patricia Montes, executive director of Centro Presente, a Somerville-based immigrant advocacy group, said Monday that advocates are now turning their attention to cities like Boston who participate. She said Patrick's decision not to join showed that there is little benefit for others to take part because it discourages immigrants from reporting crimes.

Under the Secure Communities program, the FBI automatically shares fingerprints with Homeland Security to check arrestees' immigration status.

Boston police say the checks are not used to enforce federal immigration laws but to identify criminals wanted by federal authorities.
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