Saturday, September 11, 2010

While they were busy being upset over Arizona....

From the Queens Courier:

When New York State approved a new immigration enforcement program on May 10, there was no public outcry like in Arizona because N.Y.’s decision was kept secret, immigrant rights groups said.

“In a way, it’s worse,” said Elizabeth Wagoner, senior staff attorney at Make the Road New York, based in Jackson Heights. “I don’t think you can compare the two. I think it is worse than the Arizona law.”

Unlike Arizona, N.Y.’s choice didn’t result from a legislative process or debate, Wagoner said. The New York State’s Division of Criminal Justice Services signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that committed New York State to participate in the federal Secure Communities program. As of August, DHS had expanded the Secure Communities initiative from 14 to 544 jurisdictions in a year and a half, and DHS plans to expand the program to every law enforcement jurisdiction in the country by 2013.

“Secure Communities gives ICE the ability to work with our state and local law enforcement partners to identify criminal aliens who are already in their custody, expediting their removal and keeping our communities safer,” said DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano in August.

The program requires police agencies to check the digital fingerprints of all arrested individuals during the booking process against FBI criminal history records and DHS immigration records. Wagoner said immigrant groups are concerned that the program will also target low-level offenders and people who have never been convicted of a crime.

“This is an automated system that sweeps up everybody who gets arrested,” Wagoner said. “We think it was a terrible decision. We are asking the New York State government to repeal it.”

Immigrant rights groups were caught off-guard by N.Y.’s decision to participate in the program which has not yet implemented the program.

13 comments:

Auntie Invasion said...

Does this lawyer ever help American citizens or just illegal immigrants who are here to take out jobs, apartments, parking spots, what ever else they can grab?

Make the Road is another Hate Whitey Hate the terrible, terrible Americans organization.

Anonymous said...

Hey "Auntie",
I'm brown and I support the Secure Communities program. Why in the Hell would we want criminals and felons to be out on the streets of America, when they could be on the streets of wherever the hell they came from?

Anonymous said...

This is New York. We were attacked twice, LEST ANYONE FORGETS. We have different problems than Arizona, but still we they are all the same with this illegal scourge.

Keep an eye out.

Never forget 9/11.

Lest you forget.

Anonymous said...

Sounds more like an advocacy program for violent criminals than for illegal immigrants. These violent criminals' victims are typically immigrants, legal and illegal, so it is a good thing to deport people under this program. But there are just some people for whom there is no such thing as a good deportation.

Deke DaSilva said...

“In a way, it’s worse,” said Elizabeth Wagoner, senior staff attorney at Make the Road New York, based in Jackson Heights.

Another member of the illustrious legal profession, along with Wall Street and various other industries that make up the Wealth Transfer Class. Snooze........

Think of it this way Lizzie.....

The new law is keeping you employed and providing you with more work to occupy your time!

Otherwise....."Hit The Road Lizzie!"

Anonymous said...

It's about time our government did something to protect American citizens. This is long overdue. America first!

Anonymous said...

If you don't commit any crimes, then you have nothing to worry about.

Anonymous said...

If it's so terrible why are the illegal alien day laborers & their jack pot babies still here?

take any government benefits away from them and they will go hom.

Anonymous said...

GOOD...
Send ALL illegals packing!

Anonymous said...

The gov't seems to be down mainly on the "brown" folks but what about some of the criminal "yellow peril" that's already invaded areas like Flu-xhiang?

H-m-m-m...no doubt that Congressman Ackerman, of the south Asia committee, is looking out for his Oriental campaign donors...legal or illegal so that criminals (like Tommy Huang) won't be doing jail time!

Maybe it's time for Gary to be deported in an orange jump suit to a former Soviet gulag!

Anonymous said...

Gee - the program is only for people taken down and printed - aka arrested - Oh, poor baby, he might be deported. The person is a criminal at least once already, (immigration law), has been arrested at least once already (to get their fingerprints on file), and is now arrested again

My heart bleads cold borcht for them - really. We really don't need to keep criminals around

Anonymous said...

You mean "residents" that are not citizens had no input on this?

LibertyBoyNYC said...

This is the most hopeful piece of news I've heard in a while.