Thread: Licking County, OH. now an I.C.E. Secure Community

I.C.E. News Release

January 4, 2011
Saint Louisville, OH

Licking County to benefit from ICE strategy to use biometrics to identify and remove aliens convicted of a crime

SAINT LOUISVILLE, Ohio – On Tuesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began using a federal information-sharing capability in Licking County, Ohio that helps federal immigration officials use biometrics to identify aliens, both lawfully and unlawfully present in the United States, who are booked into local law enforcement's custody for a crime. This capability is part of Secure Communities — ICE's comprehensive strategy to improve and modernize the identification and removal of aliens convicted of a crime from the United States.

Previously, biometrics — fingerprints — taken of individuals charged with a crime and booked into custody were checked for criminal history information against the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). Now, through enhanced information sharing between DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), biometrics submitted through the state to the FBI will be automatically checked against both the FBI criminal history records in IAFIS and the biometrics-based immigration records in DHS's Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT).

If fingerprints match those of someone in DHS' biometric system, the new automated process notifies ICE. ICE evaluates each case to determine the individual's immigration status and takes appropriate enforcement action. This includes aliens who are in lawful status and those who are present without lawful authority. Once identified through fingerprint matching, ICE will respond with a priority placed on aliens convicted of the most serious crimes first— such as those with convictions for major drug offenses, murder, rape and kidnapping.

"The Secure Communities strategy provides ICE with an effective tool to identify criminal aliens in local custody," said Secure Communities Assistant Director David Venturella. "Enhancing public safety is at the core of ICE's mission. Our goal is to use biometric information sharing to remove criminal aliens, preventing them from being released back into the community, with little or no additional burden on our law enforcement partners."

With the expansion of the biometric information sharing capability to Licking County, ICE is using this capability in 9 Ohio jurisdictions, including Cuyahoga, Franklin, Butler, Montgomery, Hamilton, Summit, Clark, and Warren counties. Across the country, ICE is using this capability in 892 jurisdictions in 35 states. By 2013, ICE plans to be able to respond nationwide to all fingerprint matches generated through IDENT/IAFIS interoperability.

Since ICE began using this enhanced information sharing capability in October 2008, immigration officers have removed from the United States more than 54,500 aliens convicted of a crime. ICE does not regard aliens charged with, but not yet convicted of crimes, as "criminal aliens." Instead, a "criminal alien" is an alien convicted of a crime. In accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act, ICE continues to take action on aliens subject to removal as resources permit.

The IDENT system is maintained by DHS's US-VISIT program and IAFIS is maintained by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS).

"US-VISIT is proud to support ICE, helping provide decision makers with comprehensive, reliable information when and where they need it," said US-VISIT Director Robert Mocny. "By enhancing the interoperability of DHS's and the FBI's biometric systems, we are able to give federal, state and local decision makers information that helps them better protect our communities and our nation."

"Under this plan, ICE will be utilizing FBI system enhancements that allow improved information sharing at the state and local law enforcement level based on positive identification of incarcerated criminal aliens," said Daniel D. Roberts, assistant director of the FBI's CJIS Division. "Additionally, ICE and the FBI are working together to take advantage of the strong relationships already forged between the FBI and state and local law enforcement necessary to assist ICE in achieving its goals."

For more information about how ICE is using biometrics to identify aliens convicted of a crime, visit www.ice.gov/secure_communities .

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov . To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1101/1 ... sville.htm

This is great news for central Ohio. Licking county is just east of Columbus, OH and Franklin Co.

Here's a link, showing where ICE will be implemented in 2011.

http://www.ice.gov/doclib/about/offices ... sc-dep.pdf

This evening I spoke with Lt.Tracy Myers of the (local) Westerville, PD.
They use electronic fingerprints, but due to a software problem, aren't participating in Secure Communities for Franklin, Co. As soon as this problem is corrected, they hope to fully participate.

They also have purchased portable finger print scanners. These scanners can be put in patrol cars, so suspects may be finger printed in the field.

Looks like the new year is off to a good start.

I wasn't able to download this link. Is there any news about Lucas (Toledo) County? I talked to the Sheriff back in '08 and he assured me that Toledo would never be a sanctuary city, but things change, unfortunately.

Originally Posted by magyart

This is great news for central Ohio. Licking county is just east of Columbus, OH and Franklin Co.

Here's a link, showing where ICE will be implemented in 2011.

http://www.ice.gov/doclib/about/offices ... sc-dep.pdf

This evening I spoke with Lt.Tracy Myers of the (local) Westerville, PD.
They use electronic fingerprints, but due to a software problem, aren't participating in Secure Communities for Franklin, Co. As soon as this problem is corrected, they hope to fully participate.

They also have purchased portable finger print scanners. These scanners can be put in patrol cars, so suspects may be finger printed in the field.

Looks like the new year is off to a good start.

Very good news to central OH. I hope they get the software problem in Franklin county soon....

Originally Posted by forest

Originally Posted by magyart

This is great news for central Ohio. Licking county is just east of Columbus, OH and Franklin Co.

Here's a link, showing where ICE will be implemented in 2011.

http://www.ice.gov/doclib/about/offices ... sc-dep.pdf

This evening I spoke with Lt.Tracy Myers of the (local) Westerville, PD.
They use electronic fingerprints, but due to a software problem, aren't participating in Secure Communities for Franklin, Co. As soon as this problem is corrected, they hope to fully participate.

They also have purchased portable finger print scanners. These scanners can be put in patrol cars, so suspects may be finger printed in the field.

Looks like the new year is off to a good start.

Very good news to central OH. I hope they get the software problem in Franklin county soon....

Fortunately, the Franklin Co Sheriff's system is working fine. He's the main focus of Secure Communities (SC). The local police are also using SC, provided they have electronic fingerprints. The small local Westerville PD has a temporary software problem.

Initially, I expected only the county Sheriff to use Secure Communities, but the local police depts are also participating. So, it's not limited to the Sheriff's office. This is a GRAND multiplier for SC.

I would imagine the State Highway Patrol will also start using it. They always inquired of one's immigration status, if necessary. They have written procedures for questioning suspected illegal residents and reporting them to ICE.

So, about 10% of Ohio's counties are now participating. They are clustered around Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Springfield.

Licking County links up with U.S. immigration fingerprint database
Jan 7, 2011
2Comments
Written by AMY HOLLLON
Advocate Reporter Filed Under

NEWARK -- New technology means U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement automatically will be notified if either documented or undocumented immigrants are charged with a crime in Licking County.

Currently, each time someone is charged with a crime, his or her fingerprint is checked against a variety of databases, including the Department of Justice.

But as of Tuesday, the fingerprint also will be checked against the Department of Homeland Security, ICE spokesman Khaalid Walls said.

"It matches up the fingerprints to individuals that have already applied for some sort of status or encountered ICE some other time," Walls said. "The overall goal is to have a national footprint by 2013."

According to a press release, the capability is part of ICE's goal to improve and modernize the identification and removal of aliens convicted of a crime.

ICE officials will evaluate each case to determine the individual's immigration status and the appropriate course of action. They will respond to those convicted of the most serious crimes first.

The technology is used in parts of 35 states.

Since it first was implemented in some areas in October 2008, 54,500 aliens convicted of a crime have been removed from the U.S., according to the press release.

www.newarkadvocate.com