What is Secure Communities?

The federal government created the Secure Communities program in 2008 as a tool in the identification and deportation of non-citizens who had been convicted of violent crimes.  What was once a voluntary program which sought partnerships with states and municipalities has now become embroiled in controversy and will become mandatory across America in 2013 and is currently active in Fairfield County.

As a matter of ordinary practice, state and local police departments fingerprint virtually every person they take into custody. These fingerprints are routinely transmitted to the FBI’s criminal history database so that local law enforcement can learn about an arrestee’s criminal history and active warrants. Under Secure Communities, fingerprints sent to the FBI will also be automatically forwarded to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") to be checked against their database, a collection of information about noncitizens.

If the fingerprints identifies a person as potentially deportable, DHS generally issues a “detainer,” which requests that local authorities continue to hold the arrestee for 48 hours or until DHS officials can take custody.

The ICE detainer does not require state or local officials to maintain custody of the subject; it is only a request. DHS does not reimburse local jurisdictions for the cost of holding potentially removable individuals pursuant to an immigration detainer, and the person remains in the legal custody of the state or local jurisdiction until ICE takes custody.

Secure Communities compels local law enforcement agencies and personnel to aid in the deportation of immigrants, even non-dangerous, non-violent persons who do not fit federal immigration priorities. The unilateral implementation of the program in Connecticut by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will adversely affect New Haven and the State.

Cities, counties and state governments (like New York and Massachuetts) all across America are refusing to participate in the program or are resisting the program because Secure Communities undermines community policing efforts.

The unilateral implementation of Secure Communities in New Haven will effectively invalidate New Haven Police Department General Order 06-02, which limits police questioning regarding immigration issues and routine enforcement of civil immigration laws, and disregard what has been a right and prerogative of local government: to decide for itself how to ensure public safety for all its residents and practice effective policing.

Secure Communities will effectively transform every New Haven police officer into an immigration agent, undermining confidence and trust in law enforcement, allocating much needed police resources away from our neighborhoods and making everyone less safe.

The Petition

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Please make your voice heard to the Mayor and the New Haven Board of Aldermen on the the issue of the Secure Communities program!

We, the undersigned residents of New Haven, call upon the New Haven Board of Aldermen and Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. to opt-out of the DHS program known as Secure Communities.

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