Gov. Cuomo pulls New York out of federal Secure Communities immigration fingerprinting program

BY Kenneth Lovett and Larry Mcshane
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Wednesday, June 1st 2011, 6:14 PM

New York State is suspending its participation in the controversial Secure Communities program that shared the fingerprints of anyone arrested with immigration officials.

Gov. Cuomo made the announcement Wednesday, saying there's mounting evidence the program, rolled out just five months ago, isn't working.

"There are concerns about the implementation of the program as well as its impact on families, immigrant communities and law enforcement in New York," Cuomo said.

States in the program automatically send the fingerprints of everyone booked to Homeland Security. Federal officials say it helps locate and deport dangerous criminals.

But critics charged the program results in the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants before they are even charged with a serious crime - much less convicted.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was the first governor to pull out of the program.

New York followed suit just days after federal officials admitted that they made bogus promises to recruit the state.
New York officials were initially told individual counties could opt out of the controversial program - but statewide participation is actually mandatory.

Twenty-four counties were participating before the suspension, though New York City's five boroughs were slated to start at a later date.

The governor's decision was quickly hailed by opponents of Secure Communities.

"Governor Cuomo is right to suspend implementation of the deeply flawed Secure Communities program which does nothing to make anyone any safer," said Hector Figueroa, Secretary Treasurer of Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union.

NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman agreed: "Gov. Cuomo has sent a clear message that New York State respects the values of freedom, justice and human dignity."

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/201 ... erpri.html