WASHINGTON - November 28 - The Department of Homeland Security’s Secure Communities (S-Comm) program leads local communities to distrust law enforcement, encourages racial profiling and undermines the Constitution. Speakers will convey why the program is flawed at a press conference to be held on Wed., Nov. 30 at 11 a.m., in the Cannon House Office Building, Room 122. The conference will be in advance of an S-Comm Oversight Hearing scheduled for later in the day before the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement of the House Judiciary Committee.

WHAT:
Press conference featuring a range of criticism of S-Comm.

WHO:
Antonio Montejano: A U.S. citizen born in Los Angeles who was arrested by the Santa Monica Police Department for shoplifting. He accidentally left a store without paying for candy that his children had eaten while shopping. Despite his citizenship, he was detained for several days under a DHS hold, which was triggered because of S-Comm. During his detention, he was not provided any blankets and was forced to sleep on the floor.  

Ronald Hampton, Washington Representative of Blacks in Law Enforcement in America and a retired police officer who served in the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. for 24 years. Hampton has been a vocal critic of S-Comm for leading to anti-community policing and harming public safety.

Aarti Kohli, Director of Immigration Policy, The Warren Institute on Law and Social Policy, Berkeley Law, University of California. Kohli co-authored the report, “Secure Communities by the Numbers: An Analysis of Demographics and Due Process,” which revealed many problems with S-Comm.

Honorable J. Walter Tejada: Member, Arlington County Board. Arlington County sought to opt out of S-Comm but was told by DHS that it cannot do so.

Ali Noorani, Executive Director, National Immigration Forum. The National Immigration Forum was appointed to the DHS’ S-Comm Task Force but later resigned because it believed that the final report did not remedy flaws in S-Comm’s operation.

WHEN:
Wed., Nov. 30 at 11 a.m.

WHERE:
Cannon House Office Building, Room 122