Few takers in S.D. for turn-yourself-in immigrants

San Diego UNION-TRIBUNE

6:56 p.m. August 14, 2008

SAN DIEGO – The federal government's pilot program that gives illegal immigrants up to 90 days to leave the country has received few takers in the five cities in which it is being offered, including San Diego.

So far six people have registered: a Mexican national in San Diego; two Indians and a Guatemalan in Chicago; a Salvadoran in Charlotte, N.C.; and an Estonian national in Phoenix. None registered in Santa Ana.

The program began Aug. 5 and goes through Aug. 22. It offers the estimated 457,000 illegal immigrants with outstanding deportation orders and no criminal records a chance to turn themselves in.
In exchange, immigrants will eliminate the risk of sudden arrest and deportation.

Despite the low turnout, the government said it wasn't ready to say whether the program was a success or failure.

“We are getting a significant amount of calls and inquiries on our Web site,â€