Letter to Governor Patrick
Letter
Today, U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) sent the following letter to Governor Deval Patrick urging him to work with the Obama administration to ensure Massachusetts' "full and immediate" participation in the Secure Communities program:
Dear Governor Patrick,
I write to you today to express my support for the Secure Communities program and to urge full and immediate Massachusetts participation in the program to help combat the very serious problem posed by illegal immigration.
During a Senate Homeland Security committee hearing yesterday, President Obama's Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano described Secure Communities as "a key tool in our immigration enforcement efforts to identify those in the country illegally who are also committing other crimes, are fugitives from existing warrants, are multiple illegal entrants or security concerns."
I agree with Secretary Napolitano, and believe that Secure Communities plays an important role in keeping America safe.
Recently, three tragic deaths at the hands of illegal immigrants in Brockton and Milford have highlighted the clear need to address this very serious problem. In both cases, the perpetrators were in the country illegally and had amassed violent criminal histories.
Had the Secure Communities program been in place, it is possible that law enforcement would have been able to identify and remove them from the country before they tragically took three lives.
In her testimony, Secretary Napolitano expressed her willingness to work with states in order to address any of their concerns. I urge you to work with the Obama administration and the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to address your concerns so that Massachusetts may fully participate in this program as soon as possible.
I welcome immigrants who come to this country legally. But we are also a nation of laws and those laws need to be observed. Secure Communities is an essential tool to assist immigration authorities in enforcing the law.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Scott P. Brown
United States Senator
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