Illinois withdraws from federal immigration program
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Neal...@aol.com
May 4, 2011, 10:32:02 PM5/4/11
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Illinois withdraws from federal immigration program
By
Antonio Olivo, Tribune reporter
7:23 p.m. CDT, May 4, 2011
ct-met-state-dream-act-0505-20110504
Gov.
Pat Quinn and state lawmakers Wednesday cast Illinois as a sympathetic voice in the nation's
volatile immigration debate with two actions that run counter to a wave of
pro-enforcement measures approved or under consideration in Arizona and other states.
Quinn's office on Wednesday sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security declaring the state's formal withdrawal from Secure Communities, a federal deportation program that targets hardened criminals but has also been used against illegal immigrants arrested for misdemeanor crimes.
Nearly a third of all illegal immigrants deported out of Illinois under the program have never been convicted of any crime, the letter stated, citing federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement figures. Quinn's office suspended the state's role in the program in November amid concerns about its effectiveness.
"During the suspension, we voiced our concerns to ICE and asked them to prove that Secure Communities can and will be implemented as agreed to," the governor's office said in a statement. "After review, we were not satisfied and determined that ICE's ongoing implementation of Secure Communities is flawed."
The governor's action came as state representatives were preparing to vote on legislation that would make participation in Secure Communities optional for Illinois counties.
In a statement, ICE defended its implementation of the Secure Communities program.
"ICE's goal is to enhance public safety by removing those illegally in our county who are also breaking criminal laws," the agency said. "ICE will work with the State of Illinois to meet that goal."
Meanwhile, the state Senate on Wednesday passed by a vote of 45-11 a local DREAM Act bill that calls for administering privately funded scholarships and other financial aid to students who were brought into the U.S. illegally....
Quinn's office on Wednesday sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security declaring the state's formal withdrawal from Secure Communities, a federal deportation program that targets hardened criminals but has also been used against illegal immigrants arrested for misdemeanor crimes.
Nearly a third of all illegal immigrants deported out of Illinois under the program have never been convicted of any crime, the letter stated, citing federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement figures. Quinn's office suspended the state's role in the program in November amid concerns about its effectiveness.
"During the suspension, we voiced our concerns to ICE and asked them to prove that Secure Communities can and will be implemented as agreed to," the governor's office said in a statement. "After review, we were not satisfied and determined that ICE's ongoing implementation of Secure Communities is flawed."
The governor's action came as state representatives were preparing to vote on legislation that would make participation in Secure Communities optional for Illinois counties.
In a statement, ICE defended its implementation of the Secure Communities program.
"ICE's goal is to enhance public safety by removing those illegally in our county who are also breaking criminal laws," the agency said. "ICE will work with the State of Illinois to meet that goal."
Meanwhile, the state Senate on Wednesday passed by a vote of 45-11 a local DREAM Act bill that calls for administering privately funded scholarships and other financial aid to students who were brought into the U.S. illegally....
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