WASHINGTON -- Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton said Thursday that the agency has no plans to suspend a controversial program that gives police authority to detect undocumented immigrants, even in jurisdictions under investigation for racial profiling.
"From our perspective that is a fairly draconian step, and we're very concerned about the public safety implications of not identifying serious offenders who would otherwise be released to the streets," Morton told a House of Representatives subcommittee on homeland security.
ICE has remained staunchly committed to the Secure Communities program, despite opposition from many immigrant-rights groups, lawmakers and law enforcement offices. And even though the agency, partnered with the Department of Justice, is investigating whether local police are engaged in racial profiling, the administration of President Obama plans to move ahead at the same rate to implement the program nationwide.
Secure Communities requires police to share fingerprint data on all arrestees with the federal government, namely the FBI, which transfers the data to ICE in order to detect undocumented immigrants. The program currently exists in 2,385 jurisdictions, including all along the Southwest border, and will be rolled out in all 3,181 nationwide by 2013.
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) pressed Morton on problems with the program, including the fact that ICE has yet to report back on analysis meant to help detect racial profiling.
"On the question of have we suspended Secure Communities in any place that is under investigation --," Morton said to Roybal-Allard.
"-- The question is why have you not," she interjected.
The hearing, which was held to discuss Obama's Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposal for ICE, came on the same day as a letter from 80 civil rights organizations urging the FBI to stop participating in the program.
"[Secure Communities] threatens public safety, encourages racial profiling, undermines community policing, and serves as a deportation dragnet, ensnaring anyone who is booked into police custody," the letter reads.
The program's detractors say it could discourage immigrants from coming to police as witnesses or victims, hurting overall public safety. They also say it could unnecessarily put undocumented immigrants arrested for minor crimes -- even if they were never charged or convicted -- in deportation proceedings.
Racial profiling has already proved a problem in the predecessor to Secure Communities, the 287(g) program that the government is now beginning to phase out. Maricopa County, Ariz., led by infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio, was stripped of its 287(g) contract amid reports that law enforcement officers racially profiled there.
The roll-out of Secure Communities does not seem likely to be slowed by similar investigations, despite evidence that racial profiling may exist. A recent study from the Warren Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, found that 93 percent of those detained under Secure Communities were Latino, even though Latinos make up 77 percent of the undocumented population.
Some jurisdictions, and even states, have attempted to opt out of Secure Communities but were told they could not -- contradicting earlier statements and documents. Cook County, Ill., announced in September that it would no longer honor requests from ICE to hold undocumented arrestees that it would otherwise release.
Morton said ICE is tracking Cook County's releases and offered to pay any extra cost for detention at the agency's request.
"We do not think it's a good idea that hardened felons are released onto the streets of Cook County," he said.
Morton "willfully ignores" problems like racial profiling, said Chris Newman of National Day Labor Organizing Network, which advocates for ending Secure Communities.
"To me, among the most pernicious elements of Secure Communities is the extent to which it endorses the view that undocumented immigrants are serious criminals," he said.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.