5,500 LA County Immigrants Deported Due to “Secure Communities”

Since its inception in Los Angeles County, Secure Communities’ biometric information-sharing capability has resulted in the identification and removal of over 5,500 convicted criminal immigrants from the U.S.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) comprehensive sharing capability involved in Secure Communities enhances it efforts to identify and remove convicted undocumented immigrant criminals from the country using biometric identification to alert ICE when said immigrants are arrested by local law enforcement.

Regardless of the offenses of the individual at the time of initial booking, the Secure Communities screening looks to reveal if there is a more serious criminal histories. It is this that will allow ICE to deport those they feel are the greatest threat to public safety.

If fingerprints of these individuals match those of someone in the Department of Justice’s database, the new automated biometric process notifies ICE. Each case is evaluated to determine the person’s immigration status and takes immigration enforcement action. ICE prioritizes its action to focus on those convicted of the most serious crimes. (i.e. murder)

Los Angeles County is only one of 28 California jurisdictions currently taking part in the Secure Communities program. ICE has removed more than 12,400 unauthorized immigrants throughout the state. Nationwide, ICE is using Secure Communities in 574 jurisdictions across 30 states, which has resulted in more than 37,900 people.