Information bulletin
The General Mexican Consulate warns about the implementation of the “Safe Communities” program in the state of Wisconsin
Starting January 11, all 72 counties in the state of Wisconsin will be participating in the program “Safe communities,” implemented by the ICE.
Safe Communities has as its main objective to locate, detain and deport those individuals with serious criminal records, or those with deportation orders pending, who could represent a threat to the public. This will happen through the cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and the ICE, where the former share detainee’s biometric information with the latter: Fingerprints are compared against the biometric system of the Department of Homeland Security, which expedites the identification process of foreigners who lived in the U.S, and whose criminal record makes them candidates for deportation.
With the above in mind, among the implications in the implementation of this program, any person who is detained for any minor crime or infraction could be subject to the same procedure, that is, get reported to migratory authorities, who could initiate a deportation process against them.
The Mexican General Consulate in Chicago has created preventive campaigns, focused in warning those who could be affected by the implementation of this program, while promoting the dialogue with law enforcement authorities about the potential negative implications that the program could have, such as Racial Profiling arrests, and fears in the community to denounce crimes as they could themselves be deported.
The Consulate reiterates its openness to receive any complaints regarding abuse that stem off the Safe Communities program. To do so, contact the protection department, Monday through Friday 8am to 1pm no appointment necessary, or call 312-738-2023.
