By Adrian Florido
Under a new federal policy, undocumented immigrants arrested for minor traffic violations may not be immediately flagged for deportation.
On Friday, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, announced a change to its “Secure Communities” program, under which federal immigration agents partner with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement to identify and deport unauthorized immigrants who end up in jail.
Until now, immigration agents could place a hold on an arrested immigrant and start deportation proceedings as soon as that person was deemed to be in the U.S. illegally.
But ICE now says it will no longer consider deporting someone who is arrested solely for a minor traffic violation – like driving without a license – as long as that person has no prior criminal record.
If that person is convicted of the traffic charge, then the agency could deport them. But if acquitted, the person is likely to be allowed to stay in the country.
Read about a City Heights man who landed in deportation proceedings because of a broken taillight