Venturella

Tejada pointed to Napolitano's recent letter to Congress, in which she wrote, "A local law enforcement agency that does not wish to participate in the Secure Communities deployment plan must formally notify the Assistant Director for the Secure Communities program, David Venturella."

Local jurisdictions find they can't opt out of federal immigration enforcement program Shankar Vedantam 2010

Tejada pointed to Napolitano's recent letter to Congress, in which she wrote, "A local law enforcement agency that does not wish to participate in the Secure Communities deployment plan must formally notify the Assistant Director for the Secure Communities program, David Venturella."

Local jurisdictions find they can't opt out of federal immigration enforcement program Shankar Vedantam 2010

Tejada pointed to Napolitano's recent letter to Congress, in which she wrote, "A local law enforcement agency that does not wish to participate in the Secure Communities deployment plan must formally notify the Assistant Director for the Secure Communities program, David Venturella."

Local jurisdictions find they can't opt out of federal immigration enforcement program Shankar Vedantam 2010

However, some 18 months later in response to an inquiry from Santa Clara County Counsel on this matter, Mr. Venturella disavowed this statement and called it an "oversight."

Jorge-Mario Cabrera: InSecurities in California's Communities Jorge-Mario Cabrera 2011

Tejada pointed to Napolitano's recent letter to Congress, in which she wrote, "A local law enforcement agency that does not wish to participate in the Secure Communities deployment plan must formally notify the Assistant Director for the Secure Communities program, David Venturella."

Local jurisdictions find they can't opt out of federal immigration enforcement program Shankar Vedantam 2010

Beyond the constant confusion about local governments 'ability to opt-out of the program, Venturella frustrated advocates when he revealed there is no official mechanism to receive complaints for cases similar to Bolaños, Demonstrating his own lack of knowledge of the program he directs, he referred any complaints to ICE's civil rights department, a department that does not currently accept complaints generated from the Secure Communities program.

Pablo Alvarado: Dishonesty Is Not the Best Policy, Neither Is Secure Communities Pablo Alvarado 2010

She confronted Venturella, the director of the program trying to deport her, at a speech he gave in Washington.

Pablo Alvarado: Dishonesty Is Not the Best Policy, Neither Is Secure Communities Pablo Alvarado 2010

Venturella is in charge of the fastest spreading deportation program in the country.

Pablo Alvarado: Dishonesty Is Not the Best Policy, Neither Is Secure Communities Pablo Alvarado 2010

D.C. Instead of engaging Bolaños or responding to her request for her case to be dropped, Venturella ducked the issue and denied responsibility, saying that her case had nothing to do with Secure Communities, a fact that the Washington Post originally reported on and was reconfirmed by ICE within hours of Venturella's response.

Pablo Alvarado: Dishonesty Is Not the Best Policy, Neither Is Secure Communities Pablo Alvarado 2010

Venturella opened the event saying, The program that I oversee the locals do have the control of what information gets sent to us.

Pablo Alvarado: Dishonesty Is Not the Best Policy, Neither Is Secure Communities Pablo Alvarado 2010