Thread: NC: Charlotte to be pilot city for 'self-deport' plan

Charlotte to be pilot city for 'self-deport' plan


Charlotte has been chosen as a pilot city for a federal "self-deport" program to encourage fugitive illegal immigrants to turn themselves in.
Illegal immigrants who have previously been ordered to leave the country have from Tuesday to Aug. 22 to report to U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement offices in Charlotte or risk being tracked down at their home or work and jailed.

Under "Operation Scheduled Departure," ICE spokeswoman Barbara Gonzalez said, nonviolent illegal immigrants who do not have criminal records will have up to 90 days to pull together money and make arrangements with family to return to their home countries.

Amnesty would not be offered as an incentive, she said, and volunteers might have to wear electronic tracking devices until they leave the country.

"There have been a lot of people from the community who have contacted us asking for a way to present themselves to schedule their departure instead of being arrested," she said.

Charlotte is one of five cities participating. The others are Santa Ana, Calif.; San Diego; Phoenix and Chicago.

Reaction to the program was mixed.

Maudia Melendez, head of Jesus Ministry, a Charlotte advocacy group, said her initial response is that the ICE program will appeal to some families.

Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, called the plan "harebrained" and said it would not reduce the population of illegal immigrants -- estimated at 12 million.

"This is nothing more than a modern day 'Trail of Tears,' enticing immigrants with the dream of fair treatment and a better life, only to find themselves on a path to permanent exile," he said.
http://www.newsobserver.com:80/news/story/1163444.html

WE WILL SEE

NO MORE TEARS FOR AMERICANS

If I'm not mistaken.....Chicago is too.