# Kate's Law: Plain Language Summary

Kate's Law is named after Kate Steinle, a woman killed by someone who had been deported multiple times and illegally re-entered the country. This bill makes it a federal crime for someone who has been deported to return to the United States illegally. Currently, illegal re-entry after deportation is a crime, but this law increases the penalties significantly. If someone is caught re-entering after being deported, they face mandatory minimum prison sentences—at least two years for a first offense, and at least ten years if they've been deported multiple times or have certain criminal convictions. The bill also makes it easier for immigration authorities to detain people suspected of illegal re-entry without bail while they await trial.

The law affects immigrants who have been deported and anyone caught trying to return to the country after deportation. It also impacts the immigration court system and federal prisons, which will handle more cases and longer sentences. Supporters argue the law protects public safety by keeping out people with deportation histories, while critics contend it may be overly harsh and could strain the criminal justice system. For everyday Americans, this means stricter enforcement at the border and potentially longer prison sentences for immigration violations, shifting some immigration enforcement from civil to criminal courts.

Kate's Law

Cruz, Ted

Stop Illegal Reentry Act or Kate's Law This bill increases criminal penalties for certain aliens who illegally reenter the United States after removal or exclusion. Generally, an alien who had been denied entry into or removed from the United States and who later enters or attempts to enter the United States without prior approval from the Department of Homeland Security shall be fined, imprisoned for up to five years, or both. Current law requires a fine, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, for such an alien. An alien who had been denied entry or removed three or more times and who later enters or attempts to enter the United States shall be fined, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both. An alien who was convicted of an aggravated felony or convicted at least two times before removal or departure and who subsequently enters or tries to enter the United States shall be imprisoned at least five years and for up to twenty years, and may also be fined. Currently, there is no minimum term of imprisonment for an alien who reenters after a conviction for an aggravated felony, and there are no criminal penalties for a reentering alien who had been convicted at least two times (other than the penalties for illegal reentry generally).