Agencies to share fingerprint records to prevent release of felon aliens Palm Beach Post
Federal immigration authorities and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office Monday announced a new agreement to share fingerprint records which they say will help identify aliens who have committed serious crimes, keep those individuals off county streets and remove them from the country.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Palm Beach becomes the 24th Florida county to enter such a sharing agreement, which is part of an initiative called Secure Communities.
The agreement brought immediate criticism from the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), a statewide organization with members in Palm Beach County.
Immigrant advocates say collaborations between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities have led to abuses of power, racial profiling, and leave local authorities less time to deal with common crime.
Focus on the immigration issue has been heightened by a decision on the part of Congressional Democrats to push for comprehensive immigration reform this term. A law adopted in Arizona this month that would allow law enforcement officials to stop individuals they suspect of being in the country illegally has brought the issue to an even more fervent boil.