New immigration measure in all 159 Ga. counties



By AP NEWS NOW - Associated Press
Published Thursday, December 8, 2011 Updated: Thursday, December 8, 2011 - 11:03pm



U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Homeland Security Department, on Tuesday added 116 counties to the Secure Communities program. According to ICE’s website says the initiative is now in effect in 1,882 jurisdictions in 44 states.
ICE plans to have every jurisdiction nationwide enrolled by 2013.
The program allows arrestee fingerprint information to be checked against FBI criminal history records and biometrics-based immigration records kept by Homeland Security.
Previously, fingerprints were just checked against the Department of Justice biometric system kept by the FBI.
Critics say the program discourages immigrants from reporting crimes. Several states have said they won’t participate.

New immigration measure in all 159 Ga. counties | Online Athens