Summary

Rewrites the federal unlawful-reentry statute to broaden and stiffen criminal penalties for noncitizens who return to or are found in the U.S. after removal. It redefines "removal," raises maximum sentences (up to 10 years in many cases), creates enhanced penalties for certain prior convictions or multiple prior removals, and imposes mandatory minimum terms for some repeat or aggravated-felony offenders. The bill also updates statutory cross-references and replaces references to the Attorney General with the Secretary of Homeland Security.

• Redefines the unlawful-reentry offense to cover persons previously removed, deported, excluded, or who departed while an order was outstanding and later enter or are found in the U.S. without DHS permission.
• Increases maximum prison terms for unlawful reentry and creates enhanced penalty tiers, including sentences up to 10 years in many cases.
• Imposes mandatory minimum sentences for people previously convicted of an aggravated felony or convicted multiple times under the unlawful-reentry statute.
• Requires in some cases that enhanced reentry terms run consecutively (not concurrently) with other sentences, increasing total custody time.
• Replaces references to the Attorney General with the Secretary of Homeland Security in the statute.
• Updates statutory cross-references to reflect current code structure.
• Redesignates and restructures existing subsections of the unlawful-reentry statute.
• Does not appropriate funds or specify an effective date in the provided text.
• Likely increases prosecutorial leverage and could raise federal incarceration for repeat or aggravated-felony reentry cases.
• Reduces judicial discretion in sentencing where mandatory minima are applied.