ICE Wins by Failing with "Scheduled Departure"

"I think this proves the only method that works is enforcement," concluded U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official Jim Hayes. He was referring to "Scheduled Departure," a controversial ICE program that encouraged undocumented immigrants to deport themselves. Only eight people participated in the three-week, five-city program. As the Center for Media and Democracy reported previously, immigrant rights activists blasted "Scheduled Departure" as a PR stunt. ICE has since admitted that the program was designed in part "to quell criticism by immigrant advocates that its enforcement efforts were disruptive to families." Hayes said of immigrant rights activists, "They want a more vulnerable America." Immigration lawyer Lisa Ramirez is concerned that ICE may now use the failure of "Scheduled Departure" to "fuel their enforcement even further."