US overrules Patrick on immigration

It looks like Massachusetts has no choice when it comes to participation in the federal Secure Communities program.

“The governor and I [ Mary E. Heffernan, public safety secretary] are dubious of the Commonwealth taking on the federal role of immigration enforcement,’’ she wrote to ICE, the Homeland Security agency that runs the program. “We are even more skeptical of the impact that Secure Communities could have on the residents of the Commonwealth.’’   Mary said that more than half of those deported under Boston’s program were not criminals.  Governor Patrick added...“We run a serious risk of ethnic profiling and frankly fracturing incredibly important relationships in communities that are important for law enforcement.’’  [Full Article:  Boston Globe]