History of Secure Communities.

I have become very close to the immigrant community in our town during the last 10 years and have many friends there.  In September of 2011, six of my friends disappeared.  They all had minor, mostly traffic  violations.  They fell prey to the “secure communities” program  which was established by ICE under a 2008 law which  gives them authority to remove those who are in the country illegally and violated local laws.  Their literature says that they deport felons, however,  many convicted of minor laws have been deported.  Members of the Obama administration  will say that the hope is that strict deportation laws will convince conservatives that we need immigration reform, however,  the political climate is now such that no immigration reform is possible under any circumstances.  My more cynical friends say that the system supports the 250 new detention centers that have been built by private companies to hold immigrants in the legal process.  In our smaller community most immigrant families have been here 10 years or more and are part of our community lives.  Most have citizen children who attend our schools,  churches, scout troops, sports camps and other activities.  The line between legal and illegal citizens is very blurred and it is a shock when the government has the right to take residents away without notice or exploration.  I feel like I am in a police state and even greater fear is generated in the immigrant community.  We are all part of an “insecure community”.

The following blog contains information about my six disappeared friends.  All six face deportation hearings and I will report results as they happen.  Three have been returned to the community without bond.  One has paid a $5,000 bond and is at home until his hearing.  Two have $7,000 bonds and remain in custody in detention centers in the region.