Activist calls feds' self-deportation plan 'absurd'
July 31st, 2008 @ 10:39am
by Jim Cross/KTAR

A Valley immigrant rights activist says the feds' self-deportation program to be launched next week is an absurd option for those who are here illegally.

"It is unfortunate that the only option they have is to say, would you voluntarily deport yourself. It is absurd. It is laughable. It is a situation that is not going to work," says activist Elias Bermudez with Immigrants Without Borders.

As an activist, Bermudez says he will encourage people to self-deport, but he knows very few will actually do that.

He says people who risked their lives and the lives of their families to reach the United States are not going to give it all up.

"Let's get it over with. Let's stop the agony and get it over with. And if they are going to do something about it, let's get it done or else give a us work permit at least to bring people out of the shadows."

He says the Bush administration plan is well intended, but it carries truly bad consequences with it. "Truly adding insult to injury, I mean, we have a desperate community right now barely surviving our economy and now they say come over and self-deport yourself. Truly, truly it's shameful."

"Operation Scheduled Departure'' begins Tuesday in Phoenix and four other cities. The program will end August 22.

ICE says people who have been ordered to leave the country but remain in the U.S. and have not committed a crime can participate.

Both sides of the heated debate agree that the self-deportation program will accomplish very little.

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