Administration's Crackdown On Illegal Immigration Ends Policy Of Catch-And-Release

Boston news: The Bush administration reported last Wednesday that "Nearly all non-Mexican illegal immigrants caught sneaking into the United States are being held until they can be returned to their home countries." Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said this marks the end of the 'catch-and-release' practice that for years helped many illegal immigrants stay in the United States unhindered?. He credited the crackdown, aided this summer by National Guard troops, with deterring thousands of immigrants from trying to illegally enter the U.S. over the southwest border. Border Patrol data showed a drop of about 20,000 illegal immigrants caught crossing from Mexico this summer as compared to last year.