Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Sen. Brown, at Worcester County jail, touts Secure Communities

By Lee Hammel TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
lhammel@telegram.com

WEST BOYLSTON — U.S. Sen. Scott Brown said today that if there were more advocacy by Massachusetts officials for the federal Secure Communities program, the Bay State “could be first in line” to be added by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to the 2,500 jurisdictions in the program already.

The Republican senator toured the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction this morning in an effort to underscore his support for the program. It is an issue that divides Mr. Brown and his presumed opponent, Democrat Elizabeth Warren.

Mr. Brown inspected the jail's intake area where fingerprints are taken from new inmates and sent to the federal government. Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis said that while the fingerprints are sent to federal authorities, the jail does not hear back for days on whether an inmate may be an illegal immigrant.

Mr,. Brown called that a “breakdown in communication” that would be solved by Massachusetts joining the Secure Communities program, possibly preventing someone wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from being unwittingly released. All 50 states will be in the program by the end of 2013 whether or not they want to be, according to ICE.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette - telegram.com - Sen. Brown, at Worcester County jail, touts Secure Communities