Expansion of ICE Programs

Recent updates from ICE included an announcement confirming that its public safety initiative "Secure Communities" was activated in June in every county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. According to its 06/21/2010 press release, "[t]his biometric information sharing strategy enables ICE to identify any alien booked into local law enforcement's custody for a crime. This capability is part of ICE's comprehensive strategy to improve and modernize the identification and removal of criminal aliens from the United States."

The ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program expanded this month with the announcement that five more businesses (1 located in Florida and 4 located in Texas) have joined. According to the ICE website "IMAGE is a joint government and private sector voluntary initiative designed to build cooperative relationships that strengthen overall hiring practices. The goal is to help restore the integrity of the immigration system of the United States by utilizing industry outreach and self-policing. ICE has developed this initiative as a new concept for employer self-compliance within the worksite enforcement program."