Victory! New Yorkers Celebrate Suspension of Controversial “Secure Communities” Program

Following weeks of intense organizing, this afternoon came the official announcement from Governor Andrew Cuomo that New York will quit the controversial "Secure Communities" deportation program. S-Comm will formally be suspended in every county across New York State. Victory!

In a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Governor Cuomo's administration stated that information produced thus far had called into question – at both the federal and state levels – the implementation and intended effect of the so-called "Secure Communities" program.

It is truly a great day for New York, and for the more than 6,300 Change.org members and hundreds of faith leaders, community advocates, police officers, and elected officials who have raised their voices in opposition to the so-called "Secure Communities" program in New York State.

Law enforcement officials were among the first to praise Gov. Cuomo for the decision.  Janet DiFiore, Westchester County District Attorney, said, "I support Governor Cuomo's decision to take New York State out of the Secure Communities Program in light of reports of the unintended consequences by its implementation. I remain confident that law enforcement throughout the state presently has sufficient tools at its disposal to continue to safeguard and protect all New Yorkers."

“We are greatly encouraged that Governor Cuomo has recognized that Secure Communities erodes trust with the police, encourages racial profiling, and funnels immigrants into an unjust deportation system,” said Mizue Aizeki of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights. “This program never did and never will belong in New York.”

The New York Working Group Against Deportation, under Aizeki's leadership, started a petition on Change.org about a month ago, on the heels of intensifying calls for Governor Cuomo to withdraw from the S-Comm program. These have come from faith leaders who held vigils and rallies, members of Congress, and over three dozen NY state legislators who sent a letter to the Governor.

State Senator José M. Serrano was among these legislators. He applauded the decision, stating, "I commend Governor Cuomo for taking action, and for seriously examining why this program would be a destructive departure from what our state represents." Reps. Jose E. Serrano (D-NY) and Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) were also vocal in calling for the program's termination.

An offline petition push was also being coordinated with the New York Civil Liberties Union, which had gathered more than 1,750 signatures for Gov. Cuomo, to be delivered alongside the Change.org signatures this week. “This moratorium will halt the spread of a program that was sold as a safety measure but instead made New York less safe by making vulnerable New Yorkers afraid to call the police for help or to report a crime,” said New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman. “Instead of protecting us, Secure Communities has been used as a shortcut to deportation.

Cuomo’s decision adds to a groundswell of opposition against the program in recent weeks. Illinois Governor Quinn recently quit the "Secure Communities" program, U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) called for an investigation of the way that ICE and DHS had handled it, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus urged Pres. Obama to put a full stop on S-Comm, at least until the pending investigation is completed.

Thanks to everyone who helped win this tremendous victory in New York State. Now is the time to focus our efforts on joining thousands of Change.org members and the group NDLON, who are demanding a national moratorium on the misguided deportation program.