wtnh.com
Associated Press,
Published : Thursday, 23 Feb 2012, 7:22 AM EST



NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - A Yale Law School clinic is suing Connecticut officials in an effort to stop them from detaining alleged criminals under a federal immigration enforcement program.

The Worker and Immigration Rights Advocacy Clinic announced the federal lawsuit against state prison officials Wednesday. It targets the detention component of the Secure Communities program run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Secure Communities was implemented statewide Wednesday. The program involves the FBI sending fingerprint information it receives from local police to federal immigration officials. If fingerprint checks identify undocumented immigrants deemed to be dangerous, federal officials can ask local authorities to detain those suspects for 48 hours while they decide what to do.

Students say such detentions are illegal. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration says it will review detention requests on a case-by-case basis.

Yale files lawsuit to stop immigration detainers | WTNH.com Connecticut