Immigration agency ponders S.F. opt-out request

[alp227]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

U.S. immigration officials said Wednesday they will consider San Francisco's request to opt out of the controversial Secure Communities program that makes it easier for federal authorities to track down and deport undocumented immigrants.

Until now, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, known as ICE, has rebuffed San Francisco's contention that participation in the program is voluntary. San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey, a vocal opponent of the program, has said repeatedly that as head of the city's jail system he does not want to participate.

He fired off his latest letter to the head of the Secure Communities program Wednesday - a repeat of the same request he made Tuesday.

Federal authorities agreed Wednesday to review Hennessey's request and convene a meeting with involved agencies, including the California Department of Justice that under Attorney General Jerry Brown has been supportive of Secure Communities and opposed to Hennessey's requested exemption.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/02/BAHU1F7722.DTL

[Peace Patriot]

1. "Secure communities" is a damned lie. The opposite is true.

Cops investigating violent crimes in communities with immigrant workers get LESS cooperation if they are simultaneously required to report people for immigration violations, or working in cooperation with the Feds to deport people. This leads to very INSECURE communities--for everybody, those with immigrant workers and those without them. Immigration violations are a MINOR crime, generally with NO VICTIMS. They are on a par with, say, getting caught with a marijuana cigarette in your pocket and are even LESS important than, say, running a red light (which could get people killed). They are simply, in most cases, someone LOOKING FOR WORK, or someone who forgot to update their legal status. They must HIDE in order to not get deported. They must NOT go near the police--no matter what has happened, even if they themselves have been harmed.

"Secure" communities, my ass. This damned lie is comparable to the damned lies about the failed, corrupt, murderous U.S. "war on drugs." And I am very upset that the fascist climate in this country, created by the corpo-fascist media, makes it nearly impossible for political leaders to TELL THE TRUTH and to enact laws for the COMMON GOOD.

[alp227]

3. SecComm only collects data from people IN JAIL...but I see potential for abuse

I'm reading the article, SecComm only submits fingerprint data to ICE/Homeland Security only from criminal suspects in jail. Since when do the police (at least outside Arizona, heh heh) request immigration data from crime victims/people who report crime/witnesses? I could understand if the police (I find it hard to believe that SFPD would ever sink to Joe Arpaio's level) feel suspicious that the victim is undocumented, but still...

(edited after I did a little research online)

This sheet from the National Immigration Forum (http://www.immigrationforum.org/images/uploads/Secure_Communities.pdf) explains that cops can use racial profiling to send Hispanics to jail.

[EFerrari]

4. Here's some more information.

Smoke and Mirrors: FOIA Reveals ICE Deception in Secure Communities Program

Wed Sep 01, 2010 at 01:27:23 PM PDT
BY MELISSA KEANEY, NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER

The misnamed Secure Communities program appears to be a nothing but smoke and mirrors—a federal program operating without adequate supervision or safeguards. The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking information on Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) signature immigration enforcement program. The government documents NILC obtained show that ICE’s public statements about the Secure Communities program do not reflect what goes on behind closed doors.


http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/9/1/898196/-Smoke-and-Mirrors:-FOIA-Reveals-ICE-Deception-in-Secure-Communities-Program

[alp227]

5. Thanks for the link, but I edited my message after Googling myself.

I tried reading the Teabagger-swarmed comments section and then became sceptical of what the 1st poster here had to say. Then I used Google and edited my post. But I'll read this Dailykos story later. Thanks anyway.

[EFerrari]

6. I think if you search "secure communities" at Amy Goodman's site

you'll find her reports. It's democracynow.org

Imho, ICE in general and this program in particular don't have enough oversight. No one checks behind them. People in their custody don't get adequate care and there have been fatalities. They're the last people you want working with local law enforcement on anything.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

2. As a San Franciscan I support Sheriff Hennessey --

I do not want my town to become Raid Central. :(