Fingerprint program could expand to cities under state legislation

April 21, 2011 7:57 PM
Jared Janes

MCALLEN -- A bill eliminating a loophole in a Department of Homeland Security program that checks the immigration status of people booked into jail passed a state Senate committee this week.

The legislation expands application of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Secure Communities program to city detention facilities, preventing undocumented immigrants charged with serious crimes from being released back into the community. But its approval put Sen. Juan “Chuyâ€