We often hear about people getting deported. When this happens, is the deportee physically sent back to his country of origin, or simply told he has X number of hours to leave, or what?
Both. An alien may be put on a bus or plane and physically escorted back to his country of origin, or, at the discretion of the U.S. Attorney’s office, may be granted “voluntary departure.” In this case an alien will be allowed to depart the country at their own expense if they can establish that they have been a person of “good moral character” for at least five years prior to their application for voluntary departure. This won’t be available to any alien deportable because of a conviction for an aggravated felony.