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Fruitvale Latinos Call For Repeal Of Homeland Security Program

OAKLAND (CBS SF)— Oakland's Latino community is calling on President Obama to repeal the controversial new Safe Communities program, because they feel it's a tool to implement racial profiling.

The program, also known as S-Comm, was unveiled by the Department of Homeland Security this month, and mandates the cooperation of federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies in the identification, arrest, and deportation of illegal immigrants with other criminal offenses.

KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:

But S-Comm came under fire at an all-day event in Oakland's Fruitvale District this weekend that included calls for the president to immediately step in and put the program to rest. About a hundred people packed into the Unity Council Building including representatives from Congressman George Miller and State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano's offices.

Cynthia Munoz with the Bay Area grassroots group Causa Justa, said the data sharing is flawed and increases racial profiling within the community.

"It's made it so the folks in the community no longer feel like they can trust the police when issues come up," said Munoz.

Supporters have said S-Comm is designed to rid the country of illegal immigrants who are bent on a life of crime.

Ivone attended the Oakland event and her husband was recently swept up in a security sting operation.

"We were unsure what was going to happen with him. Our daughters were scared of the possibility of never seeing their father again," she said.

Munoz said it's about time President Obama step up on the issue of real immigration reform; something he promised when he was candidate Obama back in 2008.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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