Secure Communities…Working to Protect You

In case you missed it, State House News reported that federal agents have deported a man wanted for child sex abuse and human smuggling. The means for his deportation: Secure Communities.

According to reports, Joao Brito was handed over to Dutch authorities by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcements. Originally arrested for the vandalizing a vehicle in Boston, the report from State House news states, “ICE reported Thursday that Suffolk County’s Secure Communities program enabled investigators to share fingerprint information following his arrest that produced a match indicating Brito was in the country illegally since his visa expired in September 2008.”

The report goes on to say that while in custody, federal officials were notified that Brito was wanted in the Netherlands on the aforementioned charges, and has subsequently been deported back to his native country.

This is just another example of why the Patrick Administration should reconsider its decision not to join the Secure Communities program. Thanks to this program and its extensive resources and database, we were able to take an alleged violent, illegal criminal off the streets of Boston.