Who is directly affected and how:

• Noncitizens (including removed, excluded, or deported individuals) who enter unlawfully or reenter after removal are the primary group affected; they face higher statutory exposure to prosecution, longer prison terms, and in some cases mandatory-minimum sentences if they have qualifying prior convictions.

• Federal prosecutors, U.S. Attorneys, and federal courts will see changes in charging options, sentencing calculations, and plea negotiations because the statute now specifies distinct sentence ranges and mandatory-minimum triggers tied to prior convictions or removal histories.

• Federal immigration and enforcement agencies (notably DHS components) will be more central in references and may play an enhanced administrative role because statutory references are updated from the Attorney General to the Secretary of Homeland Security.

• Detention and correctional systems may experience increased demand and longer average custody periods for persons convicted under the new penalty structure, with associated cost implications for the Bureau of Prisons and detention providers.

• Defense attorneys and immigrant communities will be affected by a higher risk of longer sentences and reduced discretion to avoid prison time in cases covered by mandatory-minimum triggers; this can change plea dynamics and access-to-justice issues.

• Local communities with large immigrant populations could see greater disruption when community members are subject to longer federal sentences and removal consequences.

Uncertain and broader impacts:

• Potential deterrent effects on unlawful entry or reentry are plausible but uncertain; evidence about deterrence from higher statutory penalties is mixed.
• The statute’s redefinition of covered conduct and enhanced penalties could increase prosecutorial discretion in charging decisions, potentially changing enforcement priorities in ways that depend on DOJ and DHS policies.
• The shift of references to the Secretary of Homeland Security is administrative but may alter interagency coordination and decision-making pathways.

Overall, the bill increases criminal exposure for a defined group of noncitizens and reallocates certain statutory reference points to DHS, with likely downstream effects on prosecutions, detention, and incarceration levels.