That’s the obvious follow-up question to that AP story on Chertoff’s progress report on catch-and-release.

On that, David Muhlhausen at Heritage e-mails me:

If true, this is an important advancement in deterring illegal immigration. However, something still needs to be done about the catching and releasing of Mexican Illegal immigrants–the majority of all illegal immigrants. Hiring thousands of new Border Patrol agents will do little to deter illegal immigration without providing sanctions. Virtually no sanctions (e.g., fines or detention) are imposed on apprehended illegal immigrants by the federal government. Because there is little or no cost to being apprehended by the Border Patrol, the research on illegal immigration suggests that illegal immigrants will make as many trips as necessary to cross the border successfully.

Muhlhausen’s written more, constructively, here.