Gov. Patrick’s public safety secretary made the announcement in a letter released today that was sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Friday.
Secure Communities has been a political hot potato for Gov. Patrick since last fall, when FOX Undercover first revealed his administration had been dragging its feet for a year on the federal government’s request to bring it to Massachusetts. Patrick eventually decided to sign on, but reversed course yesterday.
“I think this is the right decision for the Commonwealth. From a public safety position we’ll continue to work with the FBI and (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) for convicted felons who are undocumented people. But the Secure Communities program is not for us,” Patrick told reporters today.
Secure Communities links state and local police with US immigration authorities by automatically sharing fingerprints of arrestees with US immigration authorities. It’s supposed to identify and help deport illegal immigrants who have committed serious crimes.
Patrick says he supports that goal, but says Secure Communities is leading to the deportation of immigrants who haven’t committed crimes, or who have committed minor offenses.
His refusing to sign is a reversal from his stance last December, when he promised to activate Secure Communities state-wide under pressure from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE.
“Governor, are you going easy on criminal aliens?” asked FOX Undercover reporter Mike Beaudet.
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