Feds Can Screen Immigration Status in All Counties

Federal authorities can now screen the immigration status of arrestees in every county in California.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Friday that the last six counties were hooked up to the so-called Secure Communities program this week.

Through January, the agency had arrested 65,000 people in California who were identified through the program. Immigration officials say more than 70 percent of them had a prior criminal conviction.

The program began in California in 2009 and is currently being rolled out across the nation. Under the program, arrestees' fingerprints are checked against Department of Homeland Security records and immigration officials are notified when there is a hit.

The program has faced ardent criticism from immigrant advocates who say involving local police in immigration enforcement discourages illegal immigrants from reporting crimes.