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Posted: Wed 10:12 AM, Jul 06, 2011
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Reporter: Associated Press Email

Immigration Program Pricey, CO Sheriff's say

GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. (AP) -- Several Colorado County Sheriffs say can't afford to pay the costs of an expanding federal program that uses fingerprints to identify illegal immigrants.

The Denver Post reports Wednesday that about two dozen sheriff offices in Colorado say they support the program but are concerned they won't be able to adequately implement it because they don't have money to update their equipment.

Secure Communities works by checking fingerprints taken upon arrest and referencing the information to federal databases.

The program is run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Agency spokesman Carl Rusnok says the program can function without the new technology sheriffs' are seeking.

ICE has said the program will be mandatory nationwide by 2013.
Arapahoe, Denver, and El Paso Counties are the only places in Colorado currently running the program.
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(COPYRIGHT 2011 BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

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KKCO firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKCO 11News.
  • by Sheriff Stan Hilkey Location: Mesa County on Jul 6, 2011 at 01:47 PM
    Yes, "Visitor" is on the right track. The issue is that the current Livescan fingerprint machines currently deployed all over the state, including ours, are in need of replacement. These machines are used for all fingerprinting activities and are not just exclusive to the Secure Communities program. We'll get them soon enough through the budgeting process and/or through the use of seized drug monies. It would also be important to note that since we have a local ICE office here in GJ, their officers are in the local jail frequently and doing the same checks for us that the Secure Communities technology program would be doing for us. It will be nice when we get the new machines and the program is up and running, but it's not the silver-bullet to immigration issues that it is sometimes made out to be. Secure Communities is only verifying and checking identities of those arrested on other local charges. It has nothing to do with simply catching undocumented persons.
    • reply
      by Guest on Jul 6, 2011 at 04:01 PM in reply to Sheriff Stan Hilkey
      Thank you for the additional information Sheriff. Seems to me the solution is to reduce demand. ICE and the Feds should be enforcing the laws and additional laws with teeth should be passed to penalize employers that provide illegals with employment. Reduce demand and reduce the problem.
  • by Visitor on Jul 6, 2011 at 01:21 PM
    I think the problem is that the system requires something like Live-scan. These are electronic finger print machines which are connected via the Internet to law enforcement databases. They totally replace manual fingerprint cards. If this is the case, the writer did a particularly poor job of identifying the problem and point of the story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Scan Every Sheriff in Colorado should have at least one, maybe more. (One in the jail and one in the lobby).
  • by Anonymous Location: springville on Jul 6, 2011 at 12:23 PM
    it has to be cheaper to fingerprint than to house,feed,medical, and every other benefits that they seem to suck dry. ship the whole lot back and everyone would benefit,but NO lets keep treating them like they are special.
  • by Disgusted Location: Ritterville on Jul 6, 2011 at 11:53 AM
    Make e-verify mandatory for all employers, enact severe fines for those who do not follow the law and watch the problem solve itself.
  • by joe Location: gj on Jul 6, 2011 at 11:06 AM
    we should be doing this already. If i get fingerprinted its in a federal database, why not illegals too?
  • by Anonymous on Jul 6, 2011 at 11:04 AM
    Plenty o money to pay government workers six figures. But when it comes down to protecting the citizens....guess we know where their priorities are.