Immigrants: Go Home!

By Kevin Robinson in News on Aug 6, 2008 3:15PM

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a new self-deportation program Tuesday. Chicago, along with four other cities, has been chosen for the pilot program, known as "Scheduled Departure". The program asks illegal aliens who have already been ordered by a court to leave the country, but have stayed illegally, to voluntarily to report to ICE to coordinate their departure. According to ICE, the program is designed "for fugitives with no criminal record, who pose no danger to the community and who have the ability to verify their departure from the United States." Fugitives are aliens who were previously ordered removed from the US but stayed illegally.

According to ICE, "qualifying participants who surrender will be conditionally released while their departure is pending. Participants can use this time to make arrangements for the care of their family members and the shipment of property." The agency is planning to run ads in the Latino and Polish media, and is also contacting foreign consulates to help distribute the information.

"This program addresses concerns raised by aliens, community groups, and immigration attorneys who say ICE unnecessarily disrupts families while enforcing the law," said Julie L. Myers, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE. "By participating in the Scheduled Departure Program, those who have had their day in court and have been ordered to leave the country have an opportunity to comply with the law and gain control of how their families are affected by their removal." The program runs through August 22.