Government's volunteer deportation program criticized
BY DAVE MARCUS | dave.marcus@newsday.com
10:19 PM EDT, July 31, 2008

The U.S. government is offering a deal for immigrants who entered the country illegally: Show up, 'fess up and possibly get a free plane ticket home.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Thursday announced the experimental "self-deporting" program, open to about 500,000 undocumented residents. Between Tuesday and Aug. 22, those who have ignored deportation orders can call a toll-free number, go to an ICE office, then take up to 90 days to settle personal affairs before leaving the country.

By voluntarily departing, they will avoid the month- and even yearlong stays of those who are caught and sent to detention centers around the country. They will be required to sign statements saying they will not apply for legal residence in the future. Those with criminal records are not eligible, however.

While Long Island isn't included in the first phase of the project, local immigrant groups scoffed at it Thursday, as did immigrants awaiting day jobs on street corners in Huntington Station.

See what's going on in and around your area >> "It's a reflection of this administration's inability to deal in a rational way with complex issues such as immigration," said Luis Valenzuela, executive director of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance.

But Rep Peter King (R-Seaford) said he supports the pilot. "This gives illegal immigrants the chance to leave the country without any harm being done and under very controlled circumstances," he said.

At first, the Northeast isn't included in the plan. Immigrants must go to offices in Chicago, Phoenix, Charlotte, N.C., San Diego and Santa Ana, Calif.

"ICE hopes to expand the program through a phased-rollout approach," said Brandon .Alvarez-Montgomery, a .spokesman for the agency.

While ICE has not released many details of the program, some press reports say officials may offer help with flights or bus rides home for those who cannot afford the travel. The agency will keep looking for immigrants who have criminal records or who failed to obey deportation orders. Last year, ICE arrested over 19,000 immigrants nationwide, including more than 15,600 who did not have criminal records. While officials also noted that the program would save the government money on raids that involve flying agents around the country, others criticized the plan as a waste of money. Officials have not released the cost of the program.

"Illegal immigration will be solved when we stop squandering U.S. taxpayer dollars on silly programs," said Angela Kelley, director of the Immigration Policy Center in Washington, D.C. "This isn't the free New Year's Eve taxi ride where no questions are asked."

That's the view of Jose Lopez, 24, a worker in Huntington Station. Lopez said he crossed the border three years ago in order to spend several years here earning money to support his daughters, ages 7 and 5, in Honduras.

"There's no work at home," he said. "I'm here because I want to do my best for my children, not to get a ride back."
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