It's a new way to fight illegal immigration.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano came to the Bluegrass Thursday, to outline how a new system will work.

She met with local business leaders and law enforcement to discuss a national program that will soon have an impact in Lexington.

The program is called Secure Communities, and it's already in place in at least 650 jurisdictions around the country.

Under the program, the fingerprints of everyone arrested by local police are shared with federal immigrations officials.

Napolitano says Lexington will be getting the program soon.

Opponents of the program say it could deter local law enforcement's ability to work within immigrant communities.

Napolitano says the program is necessary to help fight illegal immigration.

Napolitano also made a stop in Louisville Thursday to discuss the program.

Last fiscal year, the Department of Homeland Security deported 392,000 people. Nearly 200,000 of them were convicted criminals.