Federal task force considers law enforcement sharing of fingerprints with immigration agency

[The Northerner]

About 200 people walked out of a meeting by a federal government task force on Monday in protest over a program that gives immigration officials access to the fingerprints of arrestees.

The Department of Homeland Security assembled a group of law enforcement and community leaders to make recommendations on ways to improve the so-called Secure Communities program, which gives immigration authorities access to the fingerprints of people who are arrested.

After a speaker challenged the two task force members leading the session to resign in protest, about 200 immigrant advocates got up and left, urging the public to follow. Many carried signs that read "Terminate Secure Communities" and flags from a number of countries including Mexico and Brazil.

"We have an opportunity to provide a recommendation," retired Sacramento police chief Arturo Venegas, a task force member, told the crowd as they walked out.

Read more: http://www.newser.com/article/d9p4uft02/federal-task-force-considers-law-enforcement-sharing-of-fingerprints-with-immigration-agency.html