ICE has been advertising Secure Communities as a tool to catch serious criminals, "the worst of the worst." In Illinois, however, 46 percent of people whom ICE has arrested under the Secure Communities program have never been convicted of a crime.

"This legislation is important because during this time of trying to cut back and spend less money throughout Illinois, we want our law enforcement agencies to be effective and use their resources wisely," stated Senator Munoz. "This measure will allow counties to choose if they want to be part of the program. It will also ensure full accountability of the programs impacts and costs and make certain that it focuses on serious criminals."

The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) is dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees to full and equal participation in the civic, cultural, social, and political life of our diverse society. In partnership with its member organizations, ICIRR educates and organizes immigrant and refugee communities to assert their rights; promotes citizenship and civic participation; monitors, analyzes, and advocates on immigrant-related issues; and, informs the general public about the contributions of immigrants and refugees.