Newton County is one of the latest counties to join the "Secure Communities" program, which seeks to curb illegal immigration in Georgia.

The program, an initiative of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, would allow law enforcement workers to compare fingerprints of recently arrested people to a database to determine whether that person is an illegal immigrant and subject to deportation. The goal is to have all counties participating by the end of 2012.

Newton is the 14th county to participate in the $200 million program.