Thread: NC: No illegal immigrants sign up for self-deportation

No illegal immigrants sign up for self-deportation
By MITCH WEISS (Associated Press Writer)

Posted: Aug. 5, 2008 6:18 p.m.
Updated: Aug. 5, 2008 6:18 p.m.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.
No one showed up Tuesday as a new federal program encouraging illegal immigrants to leave the country began a two-week trial, and several illegal immigrants said there's no reason to expect anyone will.

"I know people who have been caught and deported. But most are never caught," said Robert Hernandez, a 28-year-old construction worker from Honduras who has lived in the United States illegally for four years.

"To turn yourself in so you can go home and live in a village with no work? If I wanted to do that, I would have stayed in my village. I wouldn't have risked my life to come here in the first place."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched Operation Scheduled Departure in five cities, and none found any takers by the day's end.

The self-deportation trial offer is being offered to the nation's 457,000 eligible illegal immigrants - fugitives with an otherwise clean criminal history who have been caught and ignored an immigration judge's order to leave. The program runs through Aug. 22 in Charlotte, San Diego, Chicago, Phoenix and Santa Ana, Calif.

Illegal immigrants who participate will get up to 90 days to pull together money to pay for family members to return home with them and take care of other arrangements. If they don't have enough money for their own ticket home, ICE will cover the tab, said Ivan Ortiz, an agency spokesman in Charlotte to promote the program.

Illegal immigrants have flocked to the Carolinas during the past decade, as tens of thousands of immigrants have moved to the region to work in construction, agriculture, restaurants, hotels and poultry plants. Robert Alfieri, the supervisory deportations officer in ICE's Charlotte office, said the agency apprehended 900 illegal immigrants last year. He said many want to go back home.

"For them, it's getting too hard to hide. They have the stress of looking over their shoulders," he said. "They know there's a lot of law enforcement looking for them. This is their way to go home.

"For anyone to say no one will do it, that's absolutely wrong."

In Charlotte, authorities promoted the program in Spanish-language media, including local radio stations. But Angel Martinez, a 45-year-old construction worker from Mexico City who has lived in the U.S. illegally for 15 years, said most illegal immigrants will ignore the offer, especially as they "remember what life was like, how hard it was" before they moved to the U.S.

Martinez was waiting outside the ICE office while his 19-year-old son visited a friend inside who had been detained by authorities after he was stopped for speeding and found to be an illegal immigrant.

"It's stupid. You would have to be crazy," he said. "Who would want to turn themselves in?"
http://www.ncwanted.com:80/ncwanted_home/story/3334348/

Martinez was waiting outside the ICE office while his 19-year-old son visited a friend inside who had been detained by authorities after he was stopped for speeding and found to be an illegal immigrant





Well isn't he just the brazen bastard!!! Illegally in this country standing right out in front of an ICE office.......

Not surprised. Offer is on the table for a limited time only. The ones who get caught after offer expires will be sorry they didn't take the offer. Enforcement WILL continue. GO ICE, MORE RAIDS, MORE ENFORCEMENT, MORE DEPORTATIONS!

SI SE PUEDE!!!

Originally Posted by azwreath

Martinez was waiting outside the ICE office while his 19-year-old son visited a friend inside who had been detained by authorities after he was stopped for speeding and found to be an illegal immigrant





Well isn't he just the brazen bastard!!! Illegally in this country standing right out in front of an ICE office.......

Well now I guess they aren't in the shadows are they.

It will be interesting to see if things really heat up after this offer. Now after this, if they don't self-deport, they will not be able to come back for 10 years and if caught. FELONY.

"I know people who have been caught and deported. But most are never caught," said Robert Hernandez, a 28-year-old construction worker from Honduras who has lived in the United States illegally for four years.

This just goes to show we still have along way to go, even though the belated, very minimal enforcement actions going on now are welcome. Unfortunately, both Obama and McCain want to "solve" the crisis by giving amnesty to most of the illegals here by supposedly making them "learn English" and by paying a small "fine" etc.

The answer remains NO.

I.C.E. and all of LE, need to round up a whole passel(sp?) of them , so they can strike fear in the hearts of the rest of them. Just pull them all over; especially Ford F-150 pickups; the odds are good that half of them will be illegals!! Raid some of the large construction projects going on.

When I asked my DHS contact for updated deportation numbers, they said to check back with them in two weeks, and they may have some information. ?????

If we start calling in tips with Construction business licenses and names, do you think that would do any good?

Originally Posted by Gogo

If we start calling in tips with Construction business licenses and names, do you think that would do any good?

I think DHS (I.C.E.) probably have their moves already planned. I'm waiting to hear some encouraging news!!

Originally Posted by Buzzm1

Originally Posted by Gogo

If we start calling in tips with Construction business licenses and names, do you think that would do any good?

I thinkDHS (I.C.E.) probably have their moves already planned. I'm waiting to hear some encouraging news!!

I think so too.

I am speechless. Who would have thought that criminals would not show up and fess up for their crimes? I guess ICE has the same look on their faces as this guy.