Speech #CREC-2017-06-29-pt1-PgH5308-2_t27

Speaker, I rise today in support of this rule and the underlying bill, which we are calling Kate's Law. Mr. Speaker, we are calling this crackdown on illegal immigration and sanctuary city policies Kate's Law after Kate Steinle. For those of you who don't know the story of Kathryn ``Kate'' Steinle, she was a beautiful 32-year-old woman from northern California who was murdered on the streets of San Francisco while walking on a pier with her father 2 years ago this weekend. Murdered. The alleged murderer, an illegal immigrant named Juan Francisco, had seven felony convictions and had been deported from the United States five times. Deported five times. Let that sink in. It is truly unbelievable, Mr. Speaker. Yet he was back in our country after maneuvering through the previous administration's weak southern border and negligent immigration enforcement. Then he lived in San Francisco due to that city's blatant disregard for Federal law, a sanctuary city. San Francisco was no sanctuary for Kate; no sanctuary for that beautiful 32-year-old woman. If this story isn't a clear sign that our system is broken, I don't know what is. We need Kate's Law to increase criminal penalties for illegal felons like Juan Francisco who have been convicted for crimes, deported, and then decided once again to illegally re-enter the United States of America, a sovereign nation. Kate's Law is straightforward, it is common sense, and it is the right beginning to make our homeland safer and get smart about immigration policy. It is time for us to make America safe again by addressing the lack of enforcement of Federal law. Kate's Law is the right answer.