Last week, the Department of Homeland Security announced major changes to its signature (and  maligned) immigration enforcement program, Secure Communities - promising to review pending immigration  deportation cases based on newly-reinforced guidelines that prioritize deporting immigrants who commit violent crimes.  The proposed changes  provide Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents with guidance to consider factors such as whether an undocumented young person would be eligible for the federal DREAM Act; the severity of the misdemeanor or offense the undocumented individual allegedly committed; and whether or not the immigrant in question has close family members who are legal permanent residents or US citizens. State legislators  and immigrant rights activists, who have long been calling for an end to the program, applauded the announcement while continuing to ask the program be dismantled and reiterating their support for comprehensive immigration reform from Washington.