Poll: Can self-deportation solve illegal immigration?
July 31st, 2008, 10:41 am · 8 Comments · posted by Erin Carlyle
Looks like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has a new strategy to combat illegal immigration: relying upon people here illegally to turn themselves in.

In an interview on a Spanish-language television station, ICE director Julie Myers said Sunday that voluntary deportation is the federal agency’s latest strategy.

According to the San Antonio Express-News, those who haven’t been arrested 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.

Sounds a little dubious. What do you think?

How effective will self-deportation be?
Not at all effective 304-75% of all votes
Completely effective, the more strategies the better. 10-2% of all votes
Who knows? Maybe some people will do it. 89-22% of all votes
Total Votes: 403

Started: July 30, 2008
Back to Vote Screen
Update: I just spoke with ICE and got more details on the program, which will start in Santa Ana Aug. 5 …


The self-deportation program is only for people who have received deportation orders and who have not committed crimes, said Lori Haley, ICE spokeswoman.

The pilot program will begin in five cities — Santa Ana, San Diego, Phoenix, Chicago, and Charlotte — Aug. 5.

Rather than remain in ICE custody before deportation, people who select self-deportation can coordinate their own departure, Haley said.

“We’ve gotten a lot of criticism when we make fugitive operations arrests and go to people’s homes or businesses,â€