Republican lawmakers are gearing up for another immigration-related vote a week after Congress passed the Laken Riley Act. GOP Senator Ted Cruz and Rep. Stephanie Bice are set to reintroduce a bill on Tuesday seeking to impose stricter penalties on migrants who attempt to unlawfully reenter the U.S. after being deported, Axios reported.
The legislation, referred to as "Kate's Law," is named after Kate Steinle, a 32-year-old woman killed on a San Francisco pier by an undocumented immigrant with felony convictions who had been deported five times. The bill seeks to impose heavier fines and longer prison sentences for migrants who attempt to cross the U.S. border after being forcefully removed.
"I first introduced the Stop Illegal Reentry Act, also known as Kate's Law, a decade ago. It is named in honor of Kate Steinle, who was murdered by an illegal alien and convicted felon who had reentered our country," Cruz said ahead of the introduction of the bill.
Bice echoed Cruz's remarks, saying: "We must take a firm stance against individuals who continue to violate our laws and endanger the safety of the American people. The previous administration's disastrous handling of border enforcement has made our country less safe and our streets more dangerous."
Under the bill, a migrant caught reentering the country after being deported could face up to five years in prison, while those who attempt to do so unlawfully would face a maximum sentence of 10 years. The bill also mandates a minimum five-year prison term for anyone with multiple convictions or an aggravated felony conviction who tries to reenter the country.
The legislation is expected to move quickly through committees in both chambers of Congress, according to the outlet. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley has already signed on, and Majority Leader John Thune is expected to push the bill forward, hoping to force Democrats into more votes that could split their stances.
They have already been put in this position. 46 House Democrats and 12 Senate Democrats voted alongside Republicans on the Laken Riley Act, which requires ICE to detain thousands more undocumented immigrants charged with crimes. Some Democrats are urging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to take a clear stance as the issue moves forward.
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