The controversial Secure Communities program that shares local arrest data with federal immigration agents is set to expand nationwide by 2013. It is already active in 574 local jurisdictions across 30 states. But that leaves 20 more states and hundreds more counties yet to sign-up. As opponents push for a clear way to opt-out of the program, its rapid growth may ease up.
Some of the push-back against Secure Communities is coming from states that have remain uncommitted to participating since the program began in October 2008.
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter (D) confirmed to the Associated Press in August that his office is working on a modified agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - "if the governor decides to move forward." Almost three weeks later, there is no indication Ritter has agreed to enroll the state in Secure Communities.
"It's already kind of a win for us, considering we thought this would be in place by mid-July," said Alan Kaplan, who coordinates civic engagement for the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition.
Read the full story - and see a map of states where opt-out efforts are under way - at Deportation Nation.org.