How we know immigration enforcement is working–Part I
By see-dubya • August 1, 2008 12:20 AM

The independent (but pro-enforcement) Center for Immigration Studies: http://www.cis.org/ estimates an eleven percent drop: http://tinyurl.com/6lxfsk in the number of illegal aliens in America from last August to this May.

Though I believe enforcement is effective, I don’t believe that change is conclusive proof of its effectiveness. After all, the voluntary self-deportations might have occurred mainly for economic reasons instead of the fear of enforcement. Still, I’m sure it played some part.

Actually, I thought this idea was the most interesting part of the article:

[quote]ICE announced a pilot program to allow hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants who are defying deportation orders to come forward and set up a schedule for leaving. The voluntary program would allow the immigrants not to be detained in the interim, would remove some penalties and would give them time to get their affairs in order.

ICE portrayed the move as a chance for immigrant-rights groups, who have criticized the agency for its fugitive raids, to “step up to the tableâ€