Stop Illegal Reentry Act
Stop Illegal Reentry Act
Plain Language Summary
# Stop Illegal Reentry Act Summary **What it does:** This bill would increase criminal penalties for people who illegally re-enter the United States after being previously removed or denied entry. Currently, such offenses carry a maximum 2-year prison sentence; this bill would increase it to 5 years for first-time re-entries. For repeat offenders (3+ previous removals), penalties would jump to up to 10 years in prison. The harshest penalties—5 to 20 years in prison—would apply to individuals with serious criminal convictions who attempt re-entry. **Who it affects:** The bill targets non-U.S.
citizens who have been previously deported or denied entry and then attempt to return without authorization from the Department of Homeland Security. It also applies enhanced penalties to individuals with criminal records. **Current status:** The bill (S 271) was introduced in the 119th Congress by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. It has not been enacted into law.
CRS Official Summary
Stop Illegal Reentry ActThis bill increases criminal penalties for certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who illegally reenter the United States after removal or exclusion.Generally, an individual who had been denied entry into or removed from the United States and who later enters or attempts to enter the United States without prior approval from the Department of Homeland Security shall be fined, imprisoned for up to five years, or both. Current law requires a fine, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, for such an individual.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.An individual who was convicted of an aggravated felony or convicted at least two times before removal or departure and who subsequently enters or tries to enter the United States shall be imprisoned at least 5 years and for up to 20 years and may also be fined. Currently, there is no minimum term of imprisonment for an individual who reenters after a conviction for an aggravated felony, and there are no criminal penalties for a reentering individual who had been convicted at least two times (other than the penalties for illegal reentry generally).
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.