New immigration enforcement strategy — Deport yourself

[peejay 327]

New immigration strategy — Deport yourself

Agency allows immigrants here illegally to avoid raids, prison by turning selves in

By HERNÃN ROZEMBERG San Antonio Express-News

July 30, 2008, 2:37AM

Rather than risk getting caught, turn yourselves in.

That's the latest government strategy in its ongoing effort to dramatically reduce the nation's ballooning population of illegal immigrants.

Scheduled to be unveiled next week, it was announced Sunday by Julie Myers, director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in an interview with a Spanish-language television network.

Myers told the network that "Operation Scheduled Departure" will allow illegal immigrants without criminal records a chance to literally "self-deport" by turning themselves in to her agents.

She said the idea derived from a common complaint voiced by immigrant detainees: If given the opportunity, they'd rather just go home than be holed up in immigration prisons.

Under the new program, those still walking free will have the chance to walk into ICE offices, be processed and get a few weeks to arrange their affairs, pack their belongings and ship out of the country without being detained.

"The program basically gives an opportunity to those seeking an organized way to self-deport," Myers told Univisión anchor Jorge Ramos.

Myers said the program would allow immigrants to avoid the increasing risks of being picked up in a raid at home or at work, but would offer no additional incentives to turn themselves in — no chance at qualifying for an amnesty, for example.

ICE officials in San Antonio, Dallas and Washington refused to elaborate on the program, saying no details will be made available before the official presentation next week.

Proposal met with scorn

Immigrant advocates called it a laughable charade with little to no chance of succeeding without any carrots to offer self-deportees.

"It's pure fantasy," said Doug Rivlin, spokesman for the National Immigration Forum in Washington. "An attempt to entice people to sign away their rights and get out of the country as quickly as possible before even talking to a lawyer."

If people truly wanted to leave on their own, they'd buy their own bus or plane ticket home without checking in with ICE first, Rivlin said.

Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, the country's largest anti-illegal-immigration lobby group based in Washington, said he'd have to concede that point.

The government would have to offer some kind of incentive to entice immigrants to sign up, such as telling them that by leaving voluntarily they would be allowed to apply to come back legally, Mehlman said.

The concept of nudging undocumented immigrants into leaving on their own is one his group has long advocated.

"It certainly makes sense to create conditions to make people understand that if they're here illegally, it's not going to benefit them to stick around," he said.

While it remains to be seen whether the idea works for ICE, another federal agency that came up with the idea three years ago claims it has worked well.

"Fugitive Safe Surrender" offers non-violent criminals with arrest warrants a chance to give themselves up to the U.S. Marshals Service instead of being hunted down. So far more than 16,000 have accepted the offer.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5914689.html#Intro

[Ban Hammer 14,271]

[almaty 19]

stupid.

also, the FBI ask all people who committed a crime to turn themselves in/./for a reduced sentence

[Mononoke28 137]

Don't hold your breath 'cause I can't picture a whole bunch of illegal immigrants volunteering for this #######. They're illegal, not stupid, there's a big difference.

Diana

[Saddle Bronc 124]

How about the simpler method of leaving the country unannounced (without bothering to turn themselves in), since this is easier to enforce and cheaper?

(of course, I'm being sarky)

[tom&tata 2]

If they wanted to go home, they would have done it already.

[morocco4ever 63]

I'm sure they are running in hords to turn themselves in.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

stupid.

also, the FBI ask all people who committed a crime to turn themselves in/./for a reduced sentence

WHAT??? You mean they don't turn themselves in already??????? :blink:

[LaL 418]

stupid.

also, the FBI ask all people who committed a crime to turn themselves in/./for a reduced sentence

WHAT??? You mean they don't turn themselves in already???????

[Chica Yeyé 41]

stupid.

also, the FBI ask all people who committed a crime to turn themselves in/./for a reduced sentence

WHAT??? You mean they don't turn themselves in already???????

I mean, seriously.... here I am thinking this sweetheart just walked in one day and said: "OK, since you're idiots and cannot catch me after more than 15 murders, I will give you a chance to fry my brains"...

[desert_fox 32]

They are already going back voluntarily in Arizona, as they are losing their jobs or getting fired.

[peejay 327]

Don't hold your breath 'cause I can't picture a whole bunch of illegal immigrants volunteering for this #######. They're illegal, not stupid, there's a big difference.

Diana

Well...let's see...suppose you are an illegal alien from Kazahkstan and you are homesick for the Motherland...haven't seen mama, papa, and the folks back home in years...tired of living the illegal alien lifestyle...and maybe kind of disappointed that the illegal alien amnesty fell through in 2006, 2007, 2008, and uncertain in the future. Lots of stepped up enforcement actions going on. Workplace raids, arrests, jail terms, etc.

How about a free trip back home courtesy of the US taxpayer? It beats spending months in an overcrowded immigration detention prison while your deportation case languishes in administrative hell.

Who's being stupid now?

[panamania79 2]

stupid.

also, the FBI ask all people who committed a crime to turn themselves in/./for a reduced sentence

WHAT??? You mean they don't turn themselves in already???????

I mean, seriously.... here I am thinking this sweetheart just walked in one day and said: "OK, since you're idiots and cannot catch me after more than 15 murders, I will give you a chance to fry my brains"...

Good ol' Ted Bundy,what a guy !

Don't hold your breath 'cause I can't picture a whole bunch of illegal immigrants volunteering for this #######. They're illegal, not stupid, there's a big difference.

Diana

Well...let's see...suppose you are an illegal alien from Kazahkstan and you are homesick for the Motherland...haven't seen mama, papa, and the folks back home in years...tired of living the illegal alien lifestyle...and maybe kind of disappointed that the illegal alien amnesty fell through in 2006, 2007, 2008, and uncertain in the future. Lots of stepped up enforcement actions going on. Workplace raids, arrests, jail terms, etc.

How about a free trip back home courtesy of the US taxpayer? It beats spending months in an overcrowded immigration detention prison while your deportation case languishes in administrative hell.

Who's being stupid now?

Can I deport myself even if I was born here ?

[Nessa 23]

[panamania79 2]

stupid.

also, the FBI ask all people who committed a crime to turn themselves in/./for a reduced sentence

WHAT??? You mean they don't turn themselves in already???????

I mean, seriously.... here I am thinking this sweetheart just walked in one day and said: "OK, since you're idiots and cannot catch me after more than 15 murders, I will give you a chance to fry my brains"...

Good ol' Ted Bundy,what a guy !

Don't hold your breath 'cause I can't picture a whole bunch of illegal immigrants volunteering for this #######. They're illegal, not stupid, there's a big difference.

Diana

Well...let's see...suppose you are an illegal alien from Kazahkstan and you are homesick for the Motherland...haven't seen mama, papa, and the folks back home in years...tired of living the illegal alien lifestyle...and maybe kind of disappointed that the illegal alien amnesty fell through in 2006, 2007, 2008, and uncertain in the future. Lots of stepped up enforcement actions going on. Workplace raids, arrests, jail terms, etc.

How about a free trip back home courtesy of the US taxpayer? It beats spending months in an overcrowded immigration detention prison while your deportation case languishes in administrative hell.

Who's being stupid now?

Can I deport myself even if I was born here ?

I want to deport myself to Brazil.