PARTICIPATING CITIES: Chicago; Santa Ana, Calif.; San Diego; Phoenix and Charlotte, N.C.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE PROGRAM? Immigrants who have ignored deportation orders to leave the U.S. and do not have a criminal history. Federal Immigration officials estimate 457,000 are eligible nationwide.

HOW LONG WILL THE PROGRAM RUN? It started Tuesday and runs through Aug. 22.

WHERE DO PARTICIPANTS REPORT? Local ICE offices. Individuals are asked to bring whatever form of identification they have, such as an expired passport. A hot line is also available for more information: 1-866-880-6344

(Ken Carlos, ICE official:) "They're able to come in to avoid detention because they're going to come in and they're working with ICE. They're going to be able to work with their families to make arrangements to go home so it's not where all of a sudden theres a knock on the door and they're being arrested."

Carlson says it isn't clear how many people might take advantage of the program between now and the August 22 deadline.

But immigration rights advocates say it won't be many.Fred Tsao is policy director for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. He says the program offers no incentives for fugitives to surrender to ICE, rather than just leave the country on their own.