In a pilot program initiated by federal authorities, illegal immigrants will be encouraged to carry out self-deportation by keeping them free from government custody. By this program titled “Scheduled Departure”, the US government hopes to convince around 457,000 immigrants to depart voluntarily.

The experimental program which was launched on Tuesday is only applicable to those immigrants who do not have any previous history of criminal activities. According to federal estimates around 457,000 immigrants living illegally in the country will be eligible for this program. The program will allow an immigrant ninety days to wind up their affairs and make travel arrangements fro departure from US. In return the immigrant will not be detained by Customs and Immigration authorities.

The self-deportation program is scheduled to continue for three weeks from places like Chicago, San Diego, Phoenix, Charlotte N.C and Santa Ana in California. While the response to the program has been tepid, and has even drawn some ridicule from the immigrant population, authorities feel it gives the immigrant a fair chance to avoid weeks and months of staying at detention centers. With this program the authorities also hope to counter the argument that forced deportation carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement disrupts families.

-Kalyani Mookherji