Hoping to cut down on deaths of illegal border crossers this summer, the federal government will launch a $13 million pilot program to fly illegal aliens back home rather than escort them to the frontier.

The program, aimed at keeping illegal crossers from making multiple attempts, will be tested in Arizona from June through Sept. 30 then expanded to other states if successful, the San Antonio Express-News reports.

Mexico's foreign ministry says its statistics indicated a high number would choose to go home. But Bill Strassberger, a spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, admits nothing would stop the illegals from coming back, the San Antonio paper said.

Adolfo Rodríguez, a Mexican immigrant who directs a San Antonio transportation company, told the paper he thinks as many as half of the immigrants caught will take up the offer to be sent home, but that doesn't mean it will work.

They could see the program as an opportunity to rest, spend some time with the family and then try again.

"It's just not going to work. No way," Rodríguez told the Express-News. "I guarantee you that one or two weeks later, they'll be right back at the border."

The program will require the illegal immigrants to talk to Mexican counsular officials to ensure they understand being flown home is optional.

The flights will be to Mexico City or Guadalajara, where the illegals will then be bussed home.

The Express-News said the Mexican government expressed apprehension about the idea at first but has reached an agreement after four months of negotiations.