Success Stories: DHS Officially Ends “Catch & Release” Policy

Objective: Continue to Protect our Nation from Dangerous People

Situation		Action
Tens of thousands of “Other Than Mexican” (OTM) illegal aliens enter the U.S. every year 2005: More than 160,000 OTMs apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol; only 30,000 of those deported All Mexicans caught are returned immediately Many OTMs released on own recognizance, very few of them return for immigration hearings		Oct 18, 2005: DHS ends “Catch & Release” Secretary Chertoff looks for progress in one year Southwest Border (SWB) is focus of DHS DHS increases budget $90M to address SWB DHS increases beds to hold apprehended OTMs DHS decreases time to deport: 90 to >45 days
Result		"Other Than Mexican" Apprehensions by Month:
The problem of “Catch & Release” of OTMs on SWB comes under control with more resources Interior enforcement of illegal aliens is on the rise Dramatic decrease in human traffic, as well as apprehensions, from years 2005 to 2007 No releases of OTMs to date due to a lack of detention bed space or processing capacity
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This page was last modified on August 30, 2007