H.R. 384House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Kate’s Law

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Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:09 AM UTC

Kate’s Law would change the Immigration and Nationality Act to impose much harsher prison terms on people who have been formally removed from the United States and then return illegally. The bill sets mandatory minimum sentences of at least five years for re‑entry offenses, replacing the current lower maximums, and also allows additional fines. It applies to any non‑citizen who has been removed and later re‑enters without authorization.

Key Provisions

Increases the penalty for a first illegal re‑entry after removal from up to 2 years in prison to a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 6 years.
For other re‑entry categories, establishes mandatory minimums of 5 years (with maximums of 10, 20, or 10 years depending on the circumstance) and permits additional fines under Title 18.
Amends Section 276 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to reflect these new sentencing ranges.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

January 9, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 9, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

January 9, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

January 9, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 9, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 384

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 9, 2019

Mr. King of Iowa (for himself, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Jones, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Zeldin, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Johnson of Ohio, Mr. Hice of Georgia, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Brooks of Alabama, and Mr. Kelly of Mississippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase the penalties applicable to aliens who unlawfully reenter the United States after being removed.

Short title

This Act may be cited as Kate’s Law or as the Establishing Mandatory Minimums for Illegal Reentry Act of 2019.

Increased penalties for reentry of removed aliens

Section 276 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1326) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), in the matter following paragraph (2) by striking fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both and inserting imprisoned not less than 5 years and not more than 6 years; and

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in paragraph (1), by striking fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both and inserting imprisoned not less than 5 and not more than 10 years, and may, in addition, be fined under title 18, United States Code;

(B)

in paragraph (2), by striking fined under such title, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both and inserting imprisoned not less than 5 and not more than 20 years and may, in addition, be fined under such title; and

(C)

in paragraph (4), by striking fined under title 18, United States Code, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both and inserting imprisoned for not less than 5 and not more than 10 years and may, in addition, be fined under such title.