[BohDaThone]

Your example seems to show that you get a 1:10 return for actual apprehensions. I don't doubt that for 1.2 milion apprehensions you might get 12 million "self-deports."

I have some doubts that the gov't would commit the resources for the 1.2 million apprehensions, or that current legal procedures would allow their removal to go as smoothly as in 1954.

I do think that most of the enthusiastic "self-deport" believers are claiming that just employer enforcement, or aprehensions of a lot less than 1 million, will do the trick. I could be wrong, but I don't think Ii have seen anyone who is a promoter of "self-deport will solve the problem" arguing that "self-deport" means 1 million + apprehensions.

[dennisw]

Self deportations could easily snowball. The Spanish media has hysterical reports on immigration enforcement and whip up more fear in the community than La Migra. By a factor of at least ten

[brytlea]

In order for *self-deportation* to work a number of things must happen. Jobs must dry up and enforcement must been happening to the extent it can. In addition, all taxpayer subsidized services must also dry up, including health care and education. And it would probably also be necessary to do away with the interpretation of a Constitutional Amendment that makes babies born to illegal aliens automatic citizens. I don’t see most of those things happening, so, at this point, one would have to say it hasn’t been tried.