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The state of Florida in the United States implemented the "Secure Communities" program which allows authorities to verify the immigration and criminal history of aliens who are detained.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLA) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced today that the measure went into effect statewide.
Using a biometric technology system shared with each county in Florida, the authorities will help immigration officials identify aliens who are legally or not in the U.S. when in the custody of authorities.
In Miami, FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey said in a press conference that "the program maximizes the use of technology to share important information for public safety."
Secure Communities is an initiative of the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Justice Department (DOJ). Both have modernized the process to identify and deport criminal aliens.
Before, when a person was arrested, the fingerprints were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), but now, they will also be verified by the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) of DHS.
Under the administration of President Barack Obama, ICE has changed its priorities on immigration enforcement in Florida.
Now, ICE focuses more on aliens who have committed crimes on U.S. soil, whereas previously any person was deported regardless of having a criminal record.
According to data from ICE, there has been a drop in deportations of immigrants with no criminal record from 2008 until 2010.
With the expansion of the program in the state of Florida, “Secure Communities” is used in 392 jurisdictions in 23 states.
Florida has had more than 1,800 immigrants convicts deported.
Florida apunta a deportar a inmigrantes delincuentes