Who Would Have Guessed? ImmigrationProf Blog, Of Course — Department of Homeland Security scraps self-deport program

From the announcement of Operation Scheduled Departure, we have been very skeptical (and here) of this new program.  And we were right!  “The federal government will scrap a program for illegal immigrants to turn themselves in for deportation after only eight people volunteered during a nearly three-week trial, an official said Thursday.” Washington Post, Aug. 21, 2008 (emphasis added).  The reason offered by the government:  “The bottom line is it is not effective.”

I am stunned!  With little incentive to self deport, and little chance of being detected and removed if they didn’t, why didn’t 12 million people rush to report to ICE and agree to leave, family, friends, jobs, and community in the United States?

KJ