Only One Illegal Signs Up for Voluntary Leave Program

According to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the one immigrant who signed up for the Phoenix program was from Estonia.

Federal authorities in Arizona have launched a pilot program aimed at encouraging illegal immigrants who haven't followed deportation orders to arrange their departure from the country.

So far, only one illegal immigrant from Estonia has signed up for the program in Phoenix, according to Eduardo Preciado of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"We're pretty optimistic that things will pick up," said Preciado.

It offers immigrants who don't have criminal records or pose risks to communities up to 90 days to get their affairs in order without being put in a detention center.

The three-week program also began Tuesday in four other cities. It is aimed at clearing up a backlog of deportation cases and is a response to complaints that Immigration and Customs Enforcement disrupts families when removing immigrants from the country.

More info can be found on Immigration and Customs Enforcement's web site: http://www.ice.gov