Sponsors (6)
The bill increases penalties and centralizes enforcement to deter repeat unlawful reentry and empower prosecutors, but does so by expanding criminal exposure and mandatory penalties—raising costs, straining detention systems, reducing judicial discretion, and risking politicized charging and unexpected consequences for immigrants.
Noncitizens with repeat illegal entry, multiple prior removals, or multiple misdemeanors will face higher maximum sentences and stricter penalties, which may deter repeat unlawful reentries and reduce repeat border crossings.
Prosecutors and law-enforcement may be able to link prior improper entry to later felony convictions to pursue aggravated charges, giving them an additional tool to charge and deter serious criminal conduct by noncitizens.
Immigrants convicted of serious felonies face stricter penalties and higher maximums for repeat misdemeanor and multiple-removal offenders, concentrating enforcement on those with more serious or repeated criminal histories.
Taxpayers face higher costs because more people will receive longer and more frequent prison sentences (including possible increases up to 15 years for some repeat offenders), increasing incarceration and detention expenditures.
The bill expands criminal exposure and introduces ambiguous new links between past immigration conduct and later offenses, risking unexpected prosecutions and harsher penalties for immigrants (including criminalizing people previously subject only to administrative removals).
Mandatory minimums and enhanced penalties tied to prior felony or aggravated-felony convictions reduce judicial discretion and increase the risk of disproportionately harsh sentences for some defendants.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Raises criminal penalties for improper entry and unlawful reentry, adds aggravated-offense and mandatory-minimum rules tied to prior convictions, and moves several enforcement references to DHS.
Increases criminal penalties for unlawful entry and illegal reentry, raises maximum prison terms for repeat improper entry and creates new aggravated-offense and mandatory-minimum rules tied to prior serious convictions. Shifts several enforcement references from the Attorney General to the Secretary of Homeland Security and adds multiple new penalty categories (including up to 15 years for certain repeat offenders).
Official title: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase penalties for individuals who illegally enter and reenter the United States after being removed, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 19, 2025 by Stephanie I. Bice · Last progress September 15, 2025