Imperial County adopts database that accesses federal immigration records



2:00 a.m. September 15, 2009

Imperial County has become the latest California county to adopt a database that allows local officials access to immigration records, federal immigration officials announced Friday.
The county has joined San Diego, Los Angeles and dozens of counties nationwide in what is called the Secure Communities program, administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The program, announced by the federal government last fall, provides participating jurisdictions with technology that checks for criminal records maintained by the FBI and immigration records listed by the Department of Homeland Security.
Officers booking an individual into a county jail are able to obtain both by running the person's fingerprints. If an individual is found eligible for deportation, immigration authorities are notified.
San Diego County joined the program in May. About 79 counties around the country participate, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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