LA To Withdraw From Program Sharing Arrestees' Fingerprints With Homeland Security
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles City Council has voted 11-1 to support state efforts to withdraw from a Homeland Security program that requires fingerprints of arrestees to be shared with immigration agents.
Podcast
KNX 1070's Claudia Peschiutta Reports
Tuesday's vote adds Los Angeles to a growing list of cities and states questioning whether the Secure Communities program is eroding trust between immigrants and police.
Several states have withdrawn from the program. The California Assembly has voted to withdraw. A Senate vote is pending.
The city's chief legislative analyst says nearly 70 percent of people deported under the program have no convictions or were accused of minor offenses.
The program allows immigration agents to check fingerprints of arrestees against Homeland Security records and take action.
»RELATED STORY: Parks: LAPD Immigration Checks Would Erode Community Trust
(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)