Democrats in the United States Senate on Wednesday, July 6 blocked a bill, the proposed “Kate’s Law”, which was introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas). The proposed legislation was named after San Francisco, California resident Kate Steinle, who was shot to death in 2015 allegedly by a homeless man from Mexico.
The bill sought to create a mandatory minimum jail sentence of five years for undocumented immigrants who are convicted of aggravated felonies or have illegally entered the country multiple times.
Molly Gill, director of federal legislative affairs at non-profit organization Families Against Mandatory Minimums, expressed objection to the proposal, saying, “Like all mandatory minimum sentences, passing Kate’s Law might feel good, but it won’t make us safer. Requiring courts to send all immigration violators to federal prison for at least five years might lock up some violent people longer, but it will definitely lock up many, many non-violent ones longer.”
Republicans in Congress might point at Austin as a sanctuary city next year because the police department there bars officers from questioning someone’s immigration status unless said status is pertinent to a matter of state or federal investigation. Police chief Art Acevedo disagrees with the point of view that the city has a sanctuary policy, stating that his department complies with federal law enforcement mandates.
Our immigration attorneys at Law Office of William Jang, PLLC, know how to properly provide legal help and assistance to our clients who are looking for help with immigration concerns such as their family’s immigration to the United States and their relatives’ deferred deportation action, among others. Call our Austin offices today at (512) 323-2333.
