Sponsors (35)
The bill increases penalties to deter illegal reentry and strengthen prosecutorial tools—aiming to improve border security and victim accountability—but does so by substantially expanding mandatory prison time, which will raise incarceration rates and costs, strain corrections capacity, and limit judicial discretion, disproportionately affecting immigrants.
Border communities and local residents: could face fewer repeat illegal reentries because the bill substantially increases penalties for unlawful entry and reentry, strengthening deterrence and national security.
Federal prosecutors, courts, and law enforcement: gain stronger statutory tools to deter and punish illegal reentry and related criminal behavior, potentially improving enforcement effectiveness.
Crime victims: may have greater assurance that removed noncitizen offenders who reenter will face enhanced prosecution and punishment under the amended reentry provisions.
Noncitizens and taxpayers: many noncitizens convicted of later reentry offenses would face mandatory additional multi-year sentences, increasing incarceration rates and raising long-term costs for taxpayers.
Federal and local corrections systems and taxpayers: raising maximum sentences (to 5, 10, and 15 years) could exacerbate prison overcrowding and strain corrections budgets and capacities.
Noncitizens and defendants: harsher mandatory consecutive sentencing reduces judicial discretion to account for individual circumstances, increasing the risk of disproportionate penalties.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Raises maximum penalties for unlawful entry and reentry, broadens aggravated-reentry triggers, and adds a mandatory consecutive 5-year minimum for certain post-entry crimes.
Official title: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide additional criminal penalties for aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States and are convicted of crimes, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 7, 2025 by Brad Knott · Last progress May 7, 2025
Increases criminal penalties for unlawful entry and unlawful reentry and adds mandatory enhanced prison terms for noncitizens who illegally enter the United States and later are convicted of other crimes. The bill raises maximum prison terms for first unlawful entry and reentry, broadens the categories that trigger higher aggravated-reentry penalties, and creates a mandatory consecutive minimum sentence for someone who entered unlawfully and is later convicted of any crime punishable by more than one year.