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Program seeks to have illegal immigrants turn themselves in
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
SAN DIEGO – Would illegal immigrants voluntarily surrender to immigration authorities at the federal building in downtown San Diego? It may seem unlikely, but this is what federal immigration officials hope will happen starting Tuesday. That's when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will roll out “Operation Scheduled Departure,” a pilot program to encourage people who have outstanding deportation orders to turn themselves in. San Diego and four other U.S. cities will participate in the program, which is slated to end Aug. 22. The other locations are Santa Ana; Chicago; Phoenix, Ariz.; and Charlotte, N.C.
“We are going to make it as comfortable as possible,” said Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “Rather than coming into our custody and facing us in the wee hours of the morning, they can come and sit down with us.” Mack said the program is open to people with a final deportation order. These individuals cannot have a criminal record and must “have made a decision that they are ready to comply with their order,” she said. There are about 572,000 immigrant fugitives nationwide, including roughly 5,700 in San Diego and Imperial counties, according to her agency. The majority of them have no criminal record. People who register for “Operation Scheduled Departure” will have 90 days to get their affairs in order before leaving. They won't be taken into custody, but may have to check in regularly with immigration officials or be monitored in some other way, Mack said. Those who request assistance with travel to their native countries – such as flights or bus rides – will receive it, she added. The program is still subject to laws banning illegal immigrants who have been deported from legally returning to the United States until five to 20 years later. While U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement won't turn away illegal immigrants who want to leave but lack a deportation order, they will consider those people case by case, Mack said. Individuals with a criminal record typically are held in custody pending deportation. Federal officials are planning a series of TV and radio ads to promote the program. There also will be a dedicated Web site and toll-free phone number, although those haven't been announced. In San Diego, people wishing to turn themselves in should go to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office at 880 Front St. The self-deportation concept has drawn scorn in certain quarters. “It is a complete exercise in futility,” said Lilia Velasquez, an immigration attorney in San Diego. “What person in their right mind who has been hiding from the government is going to come out of the shadows and deliver themselves on a silver platter?” Frank Sharry, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based immigration advocacy group America's Voice, quipped in a news release that the policy seemed to come “straight out of a 'Saturday Night Live' skit.” Mack said the program was born after the agency received feedback from immigration advocates, attorneys and others critical of a recent wave of sweeps in which agents targeted illegal immigrants' homes, arrived early in the morning and often arrested people in front of their families. Many of the individuals arrested turned out to be relatives of an illegal immigrant, and sometimes the agents went to an outdated address. “We heard them ask to please look at alternative ways of dealing with the fugitives, ways of reducing our fugitive list that were more humane,” said Mack, who added that arrests of fugitives will continue. 39 comments from 16 users
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posted by
gube
on Aug 2, 2008 at 09:35 AM
So here is their chance to keep their family's intact...............I don't want to hear in a year how they are victims because they did not do the right thing............When their family is split up because they are illegal its their own fault..............Illegal aliens knew it was against our law when the first illegally crossed the border..........Now they are given the chance to do the right thing.............If they don't take this generous offer then they deserve all the heartache that comes with their decision to continue to do the wrong thing and continue to snub their noses at our immigration laws..........................No more victims..............They get what they deserve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by
FloridaStateGrad
on Aug 2, 2008 at 09:40 AM
posted by
nine18kk
on Aug 2, 2008 at 09:42 AM
I will have to watch Tuesday's news to see if anyone actually turns themselves in. And who is paying for the travel expenses? posted by
johnburnssucks
on Aug 2, 2008 at 09:46 AM
That's that no-nonsense Sheriff from Ohio! They had an immigration expert in TV this morning. He said the whole idea is silly - nothing more than empty symbolism. posted by
FloridaStateGrad
on Aug 2, 2008 at 09:48 AM
posted by
johnburnssucks
on Aug 2, 2008 at 09:50 AM
posted by
lanabuford
on Aug 2, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Whatever......I can see the lines forming now!
posted by
nine18kk
on Aug 2, 2008 at 10:54 AM
posted by
gube
on Aug 2, 2008 at 11:00 AM
posted by
catpaw
on Aug 2, 2008 at 11:14 AM
I'll believe it when I see it. posted by
msjenny
on Aug 2, 2008 at 11:19 AM
give me a break i am a traitor. does this mean even the indians from india and muslins are we sure they are not illegals but of course we are scared of muslins, we need to solve the problem because we created it and let it go on. better idea lets shoot all illegals family and all and solve the problem that way, but i want all americans that do not have a job to go and work in the fields, posted by
michele1075
on Aug 2, 2008 at 11:21 AM
posted by
Rickldo
on Aug 2, 2008 at 11:33 AM
posted by
nine18kk
on Aug 2, 2008 at 12:00 PM
posted by
gube
on Aug 2, 2008 at 12:18 PM
jenny shooting illegals is not allowed........................that's illegal!..........Why are you advocating killing illegal aliens and their families..............jenny you are not right ...geez...... posted by
ChicoEsquela
on Aug 2, 2008 at 12:28 PM
posted by
proam
on Aug 2, 2008 at 12:35 PM
This is the kind of foolish nonsense our Government uses with our tax dollars. JBS say "empty symbolism. Absolutely Correct! Just like the few more miles of fence that will be built, for a Kazillion dollars, at our expense. Our Government is trying to pull the wool over our eyes, shut us up until the next Prez can push through an amnesty, and possibly put through the NAU. Heck, if Obama gets what he wants, it will be a OWO and we can all live like third worlders, being slaves to big business. Those of you that think illegals are living in the shadows, just stop, look, and listen. I don't buy it. They (ICE) might want to go take a look into any local nail salons. You can bet you'd find a good deal of illegal vietnamese in there. Mexicans are not the only ones, just the majority due to proximity! With our unemployment rising as fast as it is, just maybe more Americans of all nationalities will be affected by this problem, and get plugged into telling their politicians what the heck is up. If our so called leaders continue to allow this, than they are traitors and should get the boot! We've been being sold down the river long enough. NAFTA, illegal immigration! They are suppose to be doing what is in Americans best interest, not foreigners. Maybe if all the remittances that go South were actually being taxed, therefore in our budget, maybe we wouldn't have the budget crisis we have. As far as I'm concerned, I'm sick of this whole problem. We have smart immigration laws. We just don't have the leadership with enough backbone to enforce our laws. These politicians our not living up to their Oaths of Office. posted by
ChicoEsquela
on Aug 2, 2008 at 12:59 PM
posted by
getalife
on Aug 2, 2008 at 04:28 PM
I do blame all of them, but it is each criminal...I mean illegal immigrant who makes the choice to come here fault too. They need to accept responsibility for there actions. I'm tired of hearing these sob stories of how they are having they're family split up. They made the choice to break the law...deal with the consequences. posted by
AudreyB
on Aug 2, 2008 at 04:31 PM
posted by
AudreyB
on Aug 2, 2008 at 04:57 PM
posted by
FloridaStateGrad
on Aug 2, 2008 at 05:36 PM
You know, I wonder if some of you might be singing a different tune if you had been born on the other side of the fence. posted by
montfred
on Aug 2, 2008 at 05:44 PM
Turn yourselves in, we won't arrest you on the spot, we, the law enforcement agency under the control go King George Jr. promise.
that translate in common sense as, don't believe a word I'm saying, and run like hell. posted by
AudreyB
on Aug 2, 2008 at 06:03 PM
Why don't they run a sting operation like the LE on COPS do. "Your name has been drawn to win a free 52" televsion. All you have to do to collect your prize is come to this address with a valid ID to verify your name and a delivery address where we can ship your FREE 52" television. posted by
getalife
on Aug 2, 2008 at 06:50 PM
If I was "born on the other side of the fence" I probably would do what my ancestors did....come to this country legally and learn to speak English. posted by
FloridaStateGrad
on Aug 2, 2008 at 07:29 PM
posted by
vanityfair
on Aug 2, 2008 at 07:48 PM
Didn't we already cover the 100% issue? Sorry FSG, I just can't help myself :) And no, I'm not following you around, it's just that you've been everywhere lately. posted by
getalife
on Aug 2, 2008 at 07:49 PM
Ya I am. They spoke Hungarian, and German. They were Tailors and Learn to speak English very early on the settled in Pa , and Oh. Most of my family resides there today. Genealogy is a great tool. posted by
FloridaStateGrad
on Aug 2, 2008 at 08:12 PM
vanity - it's ok.. I think you and I have come to an understanding :o)
getalife - when I was speaking of being on the other side of the fence, I was specifically speaking of those coming from 3rd world countries. posted by
getalife
on Aug 2, 2008 at 08:21 PM
They all wanted a better life too. They just did it the right way. I have no sympathy, it's all drained away with my tax dollars. posted by
FloridaStateGrad
on Aug 2, 2008 at 08:30 PM
getalife - when did your ancestors come to America? If it was anytime between 1790 and 1870, there were no laws barring any free white man from becoming a U.S. citizen, so long as they had resided in the U.S. for a certain amount of time prior to applying for citizenship. After 1870, laws began to reflect more racist and bigotist viewpoints... such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, and most notably the Immigration Act of 1917 which banned "idiots," "alcoholics," the "mentally and physically defective," from coming to America. It was in the 1920s that the U.S. began to establish limits on how many people could immigrate from each country.
posted by
getalife
on Aug 2, 2008 at 08:34 PM
posted by
FloridaStateGrad
on Aug 2, 2008 at 08:40 PM
During the 1890's, there still weren't any major laws barring immigration from Europe. Your ancestors had a much easier time coming here compared to current prospective immigrants. While you're correct that they did indeed come here legally, so could the vast majority of people. posted by
getalife
on Aug 2, 2008 at 08:46 PM
Well too bad that the rest waited so long. You snooze you lose. Now it is time to play by the rules. I think that if they did wait... they would still do it legally. posted by
getalife
on Aug 2, 2008 at 08:52 PM
P.S. FLG you couldn't call my Grandma anyway she's asleep 3 hour time difference in Ohio... ha ha JK posted by
FloridaStateGrad
on Aug 2, 2008 at 08:52 PM
It's a bit more complicated than that. I'm not in support of people coming here illegally, but I am compassionate to why the vast majority feel the need to circumvent the law. I know, I'm contradictory.. oh well. posted by
getalife
on Aug 2, 2008 at 08:55 PM
posted by
ghettowife
on Aug 2, 2008 at 09:22 PM
I want your grandma's number! hahahahaha posted by
getalife
on Aug 2, 2008 at 09:23 PM
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