Sedgwick County first in Kansas to use biometrics to identify immigrants in custody for suspected crimes

? Immigration and Customs Enforcement says Sedgwick County is the first jurisdiction in Kansas to use biometrics to identify immigrants who are in custody for suspected crimes.

ICE says it began using a biometric information sharing capability known as Secure Communities on Tuesday in Sedgwick County. The system quickly identifies both legal and illegal immigrants in local custody.

The new automated process notifies ICE if fingerprints match. ICE says it will prioritize for removal from the United States those convicted of serious offenses involving drugs, murder, rape and kidnapping.

Sedgwick County joins 868 jurisdictions in 35 states participating in Secure Communities. The program is expected to be in use nationwide by 2013.