Three people self-deport in new ICE program
August 7th, 2008, 12:28 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Erin Carlyle

steam_plane1.jpgThree people living in the United States illegally have decided that it is time to go home.

The three individuals reported themselves to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices in Charlotte, Phoenix, and Chicago, said Lori Haley, ICE spokeswoman. The three are taking advantage of an ICE pilot program that began Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Under the Scheduled Departure program, people who already have deportation orders are allowed to coordinate their own deportation. The agency is billing the Scheduled Departure program as an opportunity for non-criminal, illegal immigrants to avoid arrest and detention.

So far, only these three individuals have decided they’d like to schedule their own departure, Haley said. She said she had no details on their personal situations, or why they might have decided to schedule their departure.

Sometimes, people receive notice that is time for them to deport and simply don’t do it.

Anyone who thinks they might qualify can call the Scheduled Departure hotline at 1.866.880.6344 for more information.

We’ve written about this program before, asking you to weigh in on how effective you think it will be. Most of you were doutful that it would work … as you can see in this poll.

The program runs until Aug. 22. ICE will then evaluate its effectiveness, Haley said, and determine whether to continue it.

Related stories:

* Poll: Can self-deportation solve illegal immigration?
* Few illegals show to turn themselves in
* Illegal immigrants invited to turn themselves in

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