Anne Arundel Joins Fingerprint Database Program

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold says the county is taking part in a federal program that uses fingerprints and databases to identify illegal immigrants who are arrested on local charges. 

Leopold announced Tuesday that the county is participating in Secure Communities, a program that allows immigration officials to check fingerprints of all people booked into jail to see if they are in the country illegally. 

Both illegal immigrants and residents can end up being deported under the program, which the federal Homeland Security Department hopes to expand nationwide by 2013.

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