DHS Tells States: We Don’t Need Your Approval for Secure Communities

by Julianne Hing
Tuesday, August 9 2011, 9:08 AM EST

The Obama administration has ripped up its contracts with all 39 states that had standing agreements to participate in the federal immigration enforcement program Secure Communities.

The program, however, is not going anywhere.

On Friday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement responded to complaints of inconsistency and deception regarding the program’s design and implementation by canceling every memoranda of understanding, or MOU, with participating states, saying the contract was unnecessary anyway for immigration officials to continue to enforce and expand the program.

“ICE has determined that an MOU is not required to activate or operate Secure Communities for any jurisdiction,â€