Speech #CREC-2017-06-29-pt1-PgH5333_t48

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3004, Kate's Law. Our immigration system here in the United States is the most generous in the world. Good people from all over the globe who understand the American Dream seek to join us, and we are better for it. Alexander Hamilton, Levi Strauss, Albert Einstein, and so many others have called themselves Americans because of it. But as we continue to draw on that spirit of understanding and acceptance, we have to remember that a nation without borders is not a nation. We have a responsibility here in Congress to be proactive and protect our communities and our citizens from unlawful and criminal immigrants, and that is what this legislation does. Kate's Law, named in honor of 32-year-old Kate Steinle, who was shot and killed in the prime of her life by an unlawful immigrant who had accumulated seven felony convictions, been deported five different times--you have heard this many times said--aims to strengthen public safety by imposing hasher mandatory prison sentences for deported felons who return to the U.S. and increasing penalties for unlawful immigrants who have been convicted of nonimmigration-related crimes. Mr. Speaker, this legislation just makes sense, and I am confident that we can continue to welcome the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free in our country without giving free rein to dangerous convicted criminals in any of our communities.