What is the purpose of the Secure Communities program?

The Secure Communities program is designed primarily to identify and deport individuals who are violent criminals or serious offenders who are currently in local custody. The program facilitates the sharing of information between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities. This process allows for the identification of undocumented immigrants who have committed serious crimes, thus enabling appropriate immigration enforcement actions to be taken.

Through the program, local law enforcement can access the immigration status of individuals booked into their jails. When an individual is arrested and booked, their fingerprints are sent to both the FBI and ICE. If those fingerprints match someone who is undocumented, ICE can issue a detainer, which allows local law enforcement to hold that individual for ICE to take custody. This focus on serious offenders enhances public safety by targeting those who may pose a threat to the community.

In context, the other options do not align with the core objective of the Secure Communities program. Providing legal assistance, issuing work permits, or promoting citizenship education does not pertain to the enforcement aspect of identifying and deporting serious offenders.