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Local Protest Targets Obama Administration Rule

MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – Immigrants across the country, and in South Florida, are joining forces in protest of a decision by the Obama administration to require local law enforcement to check the immigration status of individuals they arrest and book into jail.

The program, called Secure Communities, was voluntary until the Obama administration decided to make it mandatory in recent weeks.

Protesters planned to rally Tuesday afternoon outside of the Miami-Dade County Democratic headquarters in Miami Beach.

For its part, the Obama administration called the move common sense. Immigrant advocates say the program will make people more afraid to cooperate with authorities because they would fear they could be deported.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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