From Families Against Mandatory Minimums (http://famm.org/):
Several months ago, we raised the alarm about Kate’s Law, a new sentencing bill that would fill federal prisons to bursting and cost taxpayers billions each year. Kate’s Law would require mandatory minimum five-year prison sentences for all people reentering the U.S. illegally — even if they are not dangerous.
The good news: last week, the U.S. House of Representatives decided to pass Kate’s Law without including any mandatory minimum sentences! The version of Kate’s Law passed by the House increases the possible maximum sentences those coming here illegally may face, but gives judges discretion to decide how much prison time fits each person and each crime. That’s a huge relief — and a huge win for taxpayers and for people serving time in already overcrowded federal prisons.
We know people have strong feelings on both sides of the immigration debate. But no version of Kate’s Law is going to stop unauthorized immigration, just as harsher sentences haven’t stopped this country’s drug problems.
But it’s not over yet. The U.S. Senate now has a choice: it can pass its original Kate’s Law (S. 45), with mandatory minimum sentences, or adopt the new Kate’s Law (H.R. 3004) passed by the House last week, without mandatory minimums. We don’t know if or when the U.S. Senate will vote on Kate’s Law, but FAMM’s message to Senators will be clear: If you must pass Kate’s Law, pass it with NO mandatory minimum sentences in it.
If you want to tell your U.S. Senators to oppose the mandatory minimums in Kate’s Law, go to http://advocate.famm.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=22604 to send them an email today. Thanks for supporting all we do, even when the subject is controversial!
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