Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025
Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025 Summary **What the bill does:** The Stop Illegal Entry Act increases criminal penalties for people who illegally enter the United States, particularly those who reenter after being removed or denied entry. The bill establishes a mandatory minimum 5-year prison sentence for anyone who illegally enters and is later convicted of a felony (with potential life sentences in some cases). It also increases maximum prison terms for repeated illegal entry from 2 to 5 years, and increases penalties from 2 to 10 years for people who reenter after being previously denied entry or removed, with sentences going up to 15 years if the person had prior convictions. **Who it affects:** This bill primarily affects non-U.S.
citizens who attempt to enter or reenter the country illegally. It also affects immigration enforcement officials, federal prosecutors, and the court system, which would handle cases under these new penalties. **Current status:** The bill has passed the House of Representatives and awaits action in the Senate. As written, it focuses on strengthening criminal consequences for illegal border crossing and reentry rather than changing immigration enforcement procedures at the border.
CRS Official Summary
Stop Illegal Reentry ActThis bill establishes or increases criminal penalties for certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who illegally enter the United States and then commit a felony or illegally reenter the United States.The bill establishes a mandatory minimum prison term of 5 years and allows a life sentence for an individual who (1) improperly enters, or attempts to improperly enter, the United States; and (2) is subsequently convicted of a felony.The bill increases the maximum term of imprisonment from 2 years to 5 years for repeated improper entry. The bill also increases from 2 years to 10 years the maximum term of imprisonment for an individual who had been denied entry into or removed from the United States and who later enters or attempts to enter without prior approval. The bill increases the maximum term of imprisonment from 10 to 15 years if such an individual was convicted of three or more specified types of misdemeanors before removal.An individual who had been denied entry or removed three or more times and who later enters or attempts to enter the United States shall be fined, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both.The bill establishes a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and allows a life sentence for an individual who was convicted of a felony before removal, or convicted of illegal reentry at least two times before removal, and who subsequently enters or tries to enter the United States.
Latest Action
Received in the Senate.