Countryside Health Care of Milford became the town’s first local employer Tuesday to sign on to the federal government’s background checking program aimed at curbing the hiring of illegal immigrants.

The nonfprofit health care center follows the lead of the town of Milford, population 28,000, which is the only community in New England and one of just a dozen nationwide that has enrolled in the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers.