catch and release

Noun

Meaning

(fishing) A variety of angling where the fish are released after capture, as a conservation measure.

The immigration policy of releasing illegal immigrants while they await a hearing, rather than detaining them.

(law) The practice of a patent holding company buying a patent, offering a license to its members, and then selling or donating the patent after a certain period.

The practice by police of apprehending someone but then letting them go without making an arrest.

Examples

The other thing I like, in fact, several months ago I introduced a bill to end the absurd catch and release policy where our government has been giving tickets, essentially, to people who enter illegally and then letting them go and show up of their own volition. John Doolittle

Close letter words and terms