Immigration Law

UH, YEAH

By Greg Siskind

Gee, the late night talk show host jokes can literally write themselves with this one. ICE has announced a brilliant new program to "encourage" illegally present immigrants to report for deportation.

Here's ICE head Julie Myers description of the grand plan:

Myers told the network that "Operation Scheduled Departure" will allow illegal immigrants without criminal records a chance to literally "self-deport" by turning themselves in to her agents.

She said the idea derived from a common complaint voiced by immigrant detainees: If given the opportunity, they'd rather just go home than be holed up in immigration prisons.

Under the new program, those still walking free will have the chance to walk into ICE offices, be processed and get a few weeks to arrange their affairs, pack their belongings and ship out of the country without being detained.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association had its own take on the announcement.

Of course, if someone wants to leave the country, there's an easier way. It's called Greyhound.

Thanks, by the way, to reader Nitin for the post suggestion.

Full post as published by Greg Siskind's Blog on August 01, 2008 (boomark / email).