Malloy wary of US 'hold' on immigrant suspects

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is responding cautiously to a federal program that would ask state or local officials to hold a suspect for possible deportation.

Mike Lawlor, Under Secretary for Criminal Justice Policy and Planning, said Monday that federal immigration officials could begin its Secure Communities program in Connecticut on Wednesday. The program uses fingerprints collected in local jails to identify illegal immigrants who have been arrested.

Malloy said the state will respond on a case-by-case basis to requests that immigrants arrested be held until federal immigration officials pick up the suspect.

Lawlor said victims and witnesses in the immigrant community could be reluctant to cooperate with local and state law enforcement if they fear deportation. He said the federal program could potentially interfere with law enforcement.