Secure Communities: Colorado signs on to fingerprint check for illegal immigrants

By Melanie Asmar Tue., Jan. 4 2011 at 9:43 AM

www.ice.gov

Colorado is the latest state to join Secure Communities, a federal program that checks fingerprints of people booked into local jails against a national database of illegal immigrants.

"My office has worked closely with stakeholders and the federal government over the past few months to address Colorado-specific concerns and modify the standard Secure Communities agreement," outgoing Governor Bill Ritter said in a press release today.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement oversees the national database of illegal immigrant fingerprints.

"This means increased reporting, additional data reviews and greater transparency and accountability to ensure Secure Communities is implemented in Colorado in a balanced, fair and effective manner," Ritter added.

But not all of the stakeholders are happy with the result.

Immigrant-rights advocates are planning to voice their concerns at a press conference on the steps of the Capitol at 10:30 a.m. today. Alan Kaplan of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition says the modifications made by Ritter will make Colorado's Secure Communities program one of the most overbroad and flawed in the country.

"Instead of making it stronger and more protective of people, it seems like the negotiating team has made it into something that can be applied more broadly than it was originally meant to be," Kaplan says.

For instance, a CIRC analysis points out that the agreement waters down standard language directing Secure Communities to target those "convicted of serious criminal offenses." Instead, it says to focus on those "convicted of a criminal offense."

"It's going to give ICE the ability to use this thing as a dragnet," Kaplan says.

"I think it's a slap in the face to the immigrant community," he adds. "It's a slap in the face to the dozens of groups who've been working their asses off on this, submitting letters to the governor. All of that seems to have been listened to and moved past."

Tags:

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Governor Bill Ritter, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secure Communities

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Your History Teacher

All this talk about legal this or illegal that is ridiculous! Many "legal citizens" are descended from people who invaded the boarders of this land, killed who ever got in their way and then rounded up the rest to be put on reservations. They got tired of doing work and kidnapped humans from Africa to be treated like cattle. Then they turned around really mad and confused as to why there were so many black people everywhere who wanted to be treated like human beings! Another group of fine citizens detained without cause thousands of Japanese people in the 1940's and it did not matter if the Japanese person was a "legal citizen" or not. SO there is a little history lesson for those who think that this issue is about "legality" and not about wanting to get rid of poor people with brown skin. If rich white people from the UK decided to stay in this country without the proper documentation they would not be called "illegal immigrants," they would be called....CEOs.

By the way "Dave-CO" and "magyart" I did not know that idiots could read the Westword...good for you for proving that a little bit of education is dangerous thing.

magyart

I applaud the use of Secure Communities, for it will make the public safer and more secure.

The E-Verify law must be revisited and made mandatory for every business in this nation, not optional or voluntary. We MUST battle the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on this. The U.S. Congress will be gridlocked for the nxt 2 yrs. Aggressive immigration enforcement must be advanced at the state and local level.

Visit the NumbersUSA and ALIPAC websites and help fight illegal immigration.

In 2012, vote against every politician that supports illegal aliens and their amnesty.

Robert

If Ronald Reagan runs, I will vote against him, at least.

Leon Maestas

This action was long overdue but still does not go far enough

magyart

This is good news for citizens and legal immigrants for Secure Communities will increase public safety and security.

Visit the NumbersUSA and the ALIPAC websites and help fight illegal immigration.

In 2012, oppose every politician that supports illegal immigration.

Piper

Both organizations that were founded by John Tanton, a famous white supremacist and believer in eugenics.

Undesireable Element

Was John tanton a friend of the Kennedy's - whose father endorsed Hitler forcing the Royals to tell FDR to recall ole Joe? The kennedy clan were complete believers of eugenics. Be careful to cast dispersion, it might be closer to you than you want to know. Planned parenthood was a direct result of the beliefs of eugenics. Read the history, get knowledgable. I visited the sites you disparage (the NumbersUSA and ALIPAC websites)and didn't see any racism, white supremacy literature or talk of eugenics. As one who was on the ultimate eugenics list (Hitlers) I find you repulsive and ignorant - Piper. It is because of people like you, that millions died in the holocaust.

In 2012, vote against every politician that supports illegal aliens and their amnesty.

Piper

Try the Bell Policy Center for Colorado info.

Piper

1) Westword: please stop using the word ixxlegal. People are not illegal and we don't use that label for anyone else who has broken the law.

2) Our laws our faulty and do nothing to address the root causes of immigration: trade and foreign policies which make very few of us richer and everyone else, especially in developing countries, poorer.

3) This program is a mass deportation program regardless of a person's criminal history or lack therof. It's arrest, not conviction based so we've basically said if you're an immigrant, due process doesn't matter. A very slippery and dangerous slope to go back down. I'm against it. And I'm equally against the deception and the spin from the Governor's office. There are no protections for anyone, not victims, not witnesses of crime, not anyone.

Michael Roberts

Piper, thanks for adding to the debate on this topic. We're going to include your take in an upcoming Comment of the Day post, along with one that offers a different point of view. Congrats.

magyart

The people that ignore the legal pathway that has been established for legal immigration, realize their conduct may result in deportation. They are not deported because they were arrested, but because they lack a legal immigration status.

If residents lack a legal immigration status, they are illegal alien residents !

We must also reject the argument that only serious criminals be deported. The federal govt. must continuously increase the annual number of deportations and implement a zero tolerance policy.

We need E-verify legislation at a nation level and change our policy of granting citizenship to "anchor babies".

The American citizen and legal immigrant has rejected CIR and the DREAM Act.

Michael Roberts

Magyart, thanks for weighing in on the use of the word "illegal." We're going to feature your take in an upcoming Comment of the Day post, along with one featuring a different point of view. Congrats.

Robert

Hear! Hear! Some immigrants have entered the country illegally, but use of the phrase "illegal immigrant" is semantic endorsement of the false notion that these people are criminal in outlook and conduct.

magyart

These "residents" are not immigrants, for they entered the country illegally. Immigrants follow the legal pathway that has been established and are fully documented.

Residents that entered the country illegally are ILLEAGL ALIEN Residents !

In 2012, please vote against every polititian that supports illegal immigration.

Dave-co

I hope their faces get slapped so hard they are thrown back across the border, who gives a damn about the ILLEGAL immigrant community, every last one is a law breaker and deserves any kind of punishment that comes there way. I care about legal USA citizens and LEGAL immigrants that stood in line and did it by the book!!!!!!!!!!!

Robert

So, you aren't happy with this action on the part of the Governor? You're holding out for face-slapping?