In October 2005, Michael Chertoff, then Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, told a hearing of the United States Senate that he intended to end the catch-and-release policy soon, so as to reduce illegal immigration to the United States and the security threat posed by it [REF].
In August 2006, Chertoff provided more details, explaining that the change had led to a drop of 20,000 in the number of border-crossers.