Thread: CO House gives initial OK to Secure Communities

CO House gives initial OK to Secure Communities

Associated Press -
March 21, 2011 3:24 PM ET

DENVER (AP) - House lawmakers have tentatively approved a Republican proposal that would withhold state funds from Colorado municipalities that refuse to participate in a divisive federal immigration.

The Secure Communities program uses fingerprints of people arrested to identify illegal immigrants.

Republicans say withholding severance and cigarette taxes from municipalities that reject the initiative will serve as an incentive to implement the program statewide. Democrats argued the measure would unfairly take away funds from small communities that don't have the technology to participate.

Lawmakers approved House Bill 1140 on a voice vote Monday. It faces another vote before going to the Senate.

Secure Communities is in place in more than 35 states. Opponents say it could lead to racial profiling but supporters say everyone who is arrested would have their fingerprints screened.

http://www.noco5.com/Global/story.asp?S=14292112

the way I hear it , they don't have a choice in the matter

When the feds bring it , they have to abide by it

No choice in the matter

Originally Posted by Justthefacts

the way I hear it , they don't have a choice in the matter

When the feds bring it , they have to abide by it

No choice in the matter

To fully participate in Secure Communities, local law enforcement needs electronic finger print technology. Some smaller communities don't have this. However, they typically don't have a jail. So, people they arrest and detain are sent to a county detention facility (Sheriff). To my knowledge, every Sheriff in the nation will participate by 2013.

Local police depts. without electronic finger prints may check with ICE for out standing warrants by faxing a copy of the finger prints and booking sheet to ICE. This old fashioned method is not always timely and after a limited period of four hours, detainees must be released, if ICE fails to respond.

The new electronic system is more efficient and much faster. It automatically does the checking and doesn't rely of "people" manually checking the data base.