Governor Defends Immigration Position
Worcester Sheriff Asks to Join Federal Program
myfoxboston.com
Mike Beaudet
Updated: Friday, 26 Aug 2011, 6:46 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 26 Aug 2011, 6:35 PM EDT
(Video at link)
Producer Kevin Rothstein

(FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - The death of a Milford man, allegedly at the hands of an illegal immigrant, is sparking a call for change, and now a top official in Worcester County is pointing the finger at Governor Patrick.

Sheriff Lew Evangelidis announced today that Worcester County has officially requested to join the Secure Communities program, even though the state as a whole opted out it.

The program shares the fingerprints of people arrested by police with ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in hopes of getting dangerous illegal immigrants off the streets.

The sheriff says the program may have prevented the death of 23-year-old Matthew Denice in a drunk driving crash last weekend, a crash allegedly caused by illegal immigrant Nicolas Guaman, who has a lengthy criminal record.

“I believe the governor by not joining this today is not putting the safety of the citizens of Massachusetts first,â€