Kate's Law
Sen. Cruz Introduces Kate's Law to Mandate Longer Prison Sentences for Illegal Reentry
A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase penalties for individuals who illegally enter and reenter the United States after being removed, and for other purposes.
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill, known as Kate's Law, would increase the maximum prison time for entering the U.S. illegally from 2 years to 5 years.
- It creates a mandatory 5-year prison sentence for anyone who enters the country illegally and is later convicted of a crime that carries a sentence of more than one year.
- People who return to the U.S. after being deported would face up to 10 years in prison, which is an increase from previous limits.
- The bill sets a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison for anyone who reenters the U.S. after being deported if they have a prior felony conviction or a history of serious crimes.
- Those who have been deported three or more times and try to come back would also face up to 10 years in prison under these new rules.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
This bill dramatically increases the criminal penalties for anyone who enters or reenters the U.S. without authorization. The maximum sentence for illegal entry jumps from 2 years to 5 years, and people who reenter after deportation could face up to 10 years — or a mandatory minimum of 10 years if they have a prior felony. These harsher penalties would fundamentally change the legal consequences for undocumented individuals caught crossing the border or found in the country after removal.
State Impacts
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase penalties for individuals who illegally enter and reenter the United States after being removed, and for other purposes.
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(4)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.