# 119-s-2547: Kate's Law

119-s-2547, Kate's Law, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX); status introduced (as of 2026-08-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2547
- As of: 2026-08-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-2547
- Congress: 119
- Title: Kate's Law
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-07-30
- Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-11

## Summary

**toughens criminal penalties for unlawful entry and reentry.** This bill raises maximum prison terms, creates new mandatory minimums for certain unlawful entries and reentries, and updates enforcement references to the Secretary of Homeland Security. - Noncitizens who unlawfully enter: the maximum penalty for a first unlawful entry rises from 2 years to 5 years. A person who eludes inspection or uses false or concealing statements to gain entry and later is convicted of a crime punishable by more than 1 year faces a federal fine and a mandatory minimum prison term of 5 years. - Noncitizens who reenter after removal: a general penalty now allows fines and up to 10 years in prison. Specific categories can face stiffer terms. Those with three or more pre-removal misdemeanors involving drugs or crimes against the person can face up to 15 years. Persons with prior aggravated felonies or felony convictions, or certain repeated violations, face a mandatory minimum of 10 years. - Enforcement and references: cross-references are updated to place responsibility with the Secretary of Homeland Security instead of the Attorney General and to reflect section 241(a)(4) for removal-related rules.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC] (R-NC), 2025-07-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV] (R-WV), 2025-07-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE] (R-NE), 2025-07-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL] (R-AL), 2026-03-09T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Higher penalties for unlawful entry: cost, medium. If enacted, this bill would raise the maximum prison term for unlawful entry from 2 years to 5 years. It would also create a new rule that someone who eludes inspection or uses deliberate lies or concealment to enter, and later is convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year, shall be impr…
- Stronger penalties for reentry after removal: cost, medium. If enacted, this bill would raise criminal penalties for people who return to the U.S. after removal. It would allow fines and jail terms up to 10 years in many cases. Some people with three drug- or violence-related misdemeanors could face up to 15 years. A new 10-year minimum would apply if the p…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-3752: SAVE America Act
- 119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-2547 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2547)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-524)
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-3752: SAVE America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3752)
- [119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5025)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2547 (as of 2026-08-11).