Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Is “Operation Scheduled Departure” turning into “Mission: Impossible”?

Answer: One, zero, and zero.

Question: How many undocumented immigrants have registered for the U.S. government’s “self-deportation” program yesterday in Phoenix, San Diego, and Charlotte?

The “Operation Scheduled Departure” pilot plan set up by U.S. immigration authorities for illegal immigrants has gotten off to a very slow start. (Surprised? You shouldn’t be). News outlets have reported that only a handful have signed up for the program that allows those eligible to avoid arrest and have three months to prepare before leaving the country.

The program is being run in five U.S. cities for the next three weeks; thus, there’s ample time for things to turnaround. Yet if such a tepid response continues and the program falls through, then politicians may have to (gasp!) actually consider meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform.

Alas that would only be a dream as legislators and our esteemed presidential candidates won’t touch the topic with a ten-foot pole. The nightmare of a flawed system continues chugging along.

Image- FOXNews.com (“Aug 5: A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office advertises Operation Scheduled Departure in Santa Ana, Calif.”)

Sources- FOXNews.com, azcentral.com, Reuters, The Latin Americanist, SignOnSanDiego.com, WCNC.com, sacbee.com

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