San Diego Implements Biometric System to Track and “Purge” Criminal Illegal Aliens
On Tuesday May 26, 2009, the Sheriff’s Department of San Diego County announced a sweeping new biometrics program designed to identify “removable” criminal aliens in the city’s jails. This project is a joint venture between the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Commonly known as “Secured Communities,” the program extends information-sharing capabilities among various law enforcement agencies.
The basic idea is that these agencies can now more quickly track and integrate information from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to determine whether given inmates might be “deportable.” In particular, Secured Communities focuses on preventing criminals convicted of aggressive offenses--such as assault, murder, rape, and kidnapping--from roaming free on San Diego streets.
The biometrics initiative evolved from an earlier ICE pilot project, The Criminal Alien Program, which ID’d hundreds of thousands of deportable aliens in jails across the U.S. DHS officials estimate that at least $1 billion will be spent on efforts to ID and deport removable criminal aliens… over the coming year alone!
Although officials at the DOJ and the Sheriff’s Department appear hopeful that this effort will keep dangerous criminal aliens off of San Diego’s streets, opponents have questioned whether Secured Communities violates civil liberties. Some have also argued that the program has the potential for “Big Brother”-like abuse and that biometrics analyses are not as bulletproof and accurate as proponents might have people believe.
Given San Diego’s intensified efforts to crack down on crime; if you’ve been charged with a felony or misdemeanor in CA, now, more than ever, you need an intelligent, empathetic and aggressive attorney to vouch for your rights and help you navigate the justice system. Look to Stephen Brodsky & Associates to build the smartest possible defense strategy. Find out more information at www.CriminalAttorneySanDiego.com.
