Obama Administration Fails To Halt Runaway “Secure Communities” Train, Ignoring Complaints of Governors, Congress, and Law Enforcement Leaders

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cynthia Bell, (202) 701-3735; media@dcaclu.org

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced cosmetic changes to the much-criticized Secure Communities (S-COMM) program, the centerpiece of the Obama administration’s immigration enforcement program, which has generated a growing tide of criticism by law enforcement officials and elected leaders at every level of government. The Obama Administration has turned deaf ears to the objections voiced by three governors, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus.

The following can be attributed to Laura W. Murphy, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office:

“The Administration has wasted an important opportunity to address the well-documented concerns raised by the governors of Illinois, New York and Massachusetts, as well as law enforcement leaders, domestic violence victims and civil rights organizations, regarding the deeply flawed and unauthorized S-COMM program. The supposed ‘fixes’ do nothing to dispel the fear and distrust sown by S-COMM among communities across the country; nor do they place checks on law enforcement agencies engaging in racial profiling and pretextual arrests.”