What does the "Secured Communities" program do?

The "Secured Communities" program is designed to enhance public safety and improve immigration enforcement by utilizing the fingerprints of individuals who have been arrested. When law enforcement agencies take the fingerprints of an arrested individual, these prints are checked against various databases, including those maintained by immigration authorities. This process allows officers to determine the individual's immigration status and identify any previous criminal history.

The aim of this program is to prioritize law enforcement resources on individuals who pose a risk to public safety, allowing for more informed decisions regarding immigration enforcement. By linking law enforcement actions directly to immigration status, the program facilitates the identification and removal of undocumented individuals with serious criminal records. This connection between arrest, identification, and immigration status is crucial to the operations of the program.