Fact Sheet: Secure Border Initiative Update

Ending Catch and Release

• 99% Apprehended Now Being Detained For Return. In the week of August 7-13, 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended 1055 non-Mexican illegal aliens at the Southern border, and released only 7 non-Mexican illegal aliens.

• Last Year Only 34% Detained. This year’s detention numbers are a dramatic improvement. For comparison, in January of this year, the number of apprehensions was significantly higher, and DHS was only able to detain half of the non-Mexican illegal aliens arrested. At this time last year, the detention rate was 34% of all non-Mexican illegal aliens apprehended.

• 4,000 More Beds: President Bush is asking Congress for $327 million to end the policy of “catch and release”. The President's FY07 budget proposes increasing the number of beds in detention facilities to 27,500 by the end of FY07. $257 million has been approved which will add 4,000 beds this year alone. In fact, 500 beds were added in Willacy County, Texas, in less than 45 days.