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Jun 4, 2025
Kate’s Law
Kate’s Law: An Overview
Kate’s Law is a legislative proposal in the United States that seeks to impose harsher penalties on individuals who illegally re-enter the country after being deported. The law is named after Kate Steinle, a woman who was tragically killed in San Francisco in 2015 by an undocumented immigrant who had previously been deported multiple times.
Background
The death of Kate Steinle sparked a national debate over immigration policies and the enforcement of existing laws. In response, lawmakers introduced Kate’s Law to address concerns about repeat offenders who re-enter the U.S. illegally.
Legislative Details
What is Kate’s law?
Kate’s Law proposes to increase the maximum prison sentence for individuals who are caught illegally re-entering the United States after being deported. Under current law, the maximum sentence is two years, but Kate’s Law would raise this to up to 10 years for those with prior criminal convictions or repeated re-entries.
What is the HR 3004 Kates law?
H.R. 3004, also known as Kate’s Law, was introduced in the House of Representatives in 2017. The bill aimed to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase penalties for those who illegally re-enter the United States after being removed, especially if they have prior criminal convictions. The bill passed the House but did not become law.
Controversy and Debate
Supporters of Kate’s Law argue that it would deter repeat offenders and enhance public safety. Critics, however, contend that it could lead to unnecessarily harsh sentences and disproportionately affect non-violent offenders.
Current Status
As of now, Kate’s Law has not been enacted at the federal level, although similar provisions have been proposed in various forms over the years.
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