Python + Mac: os.remove = Operation not permitted?

It's simple: I have created a folder on the desktop that I later want to remove. But when I run the script, I get this:

Processing order from queue:  002508
Copying order to desktop: /Volumes/process/002508 -> /Users/Michael/Desktop/002508 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "./process-queue.py", line 64, in <module>
    prep_desktop()
  File "./process-queue.py", line 25, in prep_desktop
    os.remove(thefolder)
OSError: [Errno 1] Operation not permitted: '/Users/Michael/Desktop/TheFolder'

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The file is owned by Michael:staff, and I can delete it manually by dragging into the trash can. I can delete it with rm -vf. I just can't delete it from within Python.

Please advise.