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Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) News Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today applauded the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General decision to investigate the agency's Secure Communities program related to misinformation provided about whether states and localities could opt-out of the program and whether the program succeeds in meetings its goal of targeting serious criminals.
Last month, Menendez supported Representative Lofgren's (D-San Jose) call to investigate the program amid reports that the Department of Homeland Security misled local governments to coerce them into participating in the Secure Communities program and ignored concerns with the program's impact on community crime fighting efforts. The Department's aggressive implementation of the program has failed to address state and local concerns about the program's impact on community policy and crime fighting.
"While I strongly agree that serious criminals should be removed from the United States, the Secure Communities program has strayed from its core mission. State and local police officers who are on the front line of crime fighting should be able to decide whether this program helps or hurts their ability to fight crime. I welcome the investigation by the DHS Office of Inspector General who heard our call to investigate this program which has been aggressively implemented without appropriate planning and safeguards."
Rep. Lofgren's letter to the Department of Homeland Security supported by Sen. Menendez:
April 28, 2011
Charles K. Edwards
Acting Inspector General
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
245 Murray Drive, SW, Bldg. 410
Washington, DC 20528
Timothy Moynihan
Assistant Director
Office of Professional Responsibility
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
P.O. Box 144755
Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20044
Dear Inspector General Edwards and Assistant Director Moynihan:
In recent months, it appears that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel and contract staff may have made false and misleading statements to local governments, the...