HR 3486119th CongressIntroduced

Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025

Introduced: May 19, 2025

Immigration

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025 would substantially raise criminal penalties for noncitizens who illegally enter the United States and for those who reenter after removal. It tightens the baseline punishment for illegal entry and creates additional, higher penalties for specific conduct (such as entry through non-designated locations or misrepresentation) and for those who commit crimes after unlawfully entering. It also enhances penalties for reentry after removal, including heightened maximums and mandatory minimums in certain cases, and it shifts some authority and terminology to the Department of Homeland Security. In short, the bill aims to deter illegal entry and unlawful reentry by imposing longer prison terms and stiffer fines on offending individuals.

Key Points

1Higher base penalties for illegal entry (Section 275): increases the minimum sentence from 2 years to 5 years for certain offenses, and adds an enhanced subsection (e) that imposes not less than 5 years (and potentially life) for aliens who enter or deceive immigration officials and later are convicted of crimes punishable by more than 1 year.
2Reentry after removal (Section 276): restructures the reentry provisions and increases penalties for those who reenter after removal, including requirements that reentry is illegal unless DHS consents in advance; introduces multiple elevated penalties depending on criminal history and removal circumstances.
3Enhanced penalties for certain reentries (Section 276(b)): creates tiered penalties up to 15 years for aliens with three or more misdemeanors involving drugs or crimes against a person, and imposes strict 10-year penalties in several other reentry scenarios (e.g., after certain types of removal or admission denials), with some sentences not running concurrently with other sentences.
4Mandatory minimum penalties (Section 276(c)): establishes a mandatory minimum of not less than 10 years for aliens meeting certain criteria before removal (e.g., aggravated felonies, any felony, or any crime punishable by more than 1 year) upon reentry.
5Definitions and agency language changes: clarifies that “removal” includes certain settlement or plea arrangements, and updates references from the Attorney General to the Secretary of Homeland Security in relevant sections.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Noncitizens who are illegally present in the United States, including those who have been removed and subsequently reenter or attempt to reenter. This also clearly impacts federal prosecutors, immigration judges, and DHS enforcement actions.Secondary group/area affected: The broader immigration enforcement framework, including asylum and admissibility processes, border control operations, and criminal justice system resources (jails/prisons) due to longer potential sentences.Additional impacts: Potential effects on plea bargaining and case outcomes due to higher minimums and maximums; fiscal and logistical strain on DHS and federal courts; possible implications for families and communities tied to individuals subject to these penalties. The shift in agency language (Attorney General to Secretary of Homeland Security) signals a DHS-centric enforcement approach.The text indicates the House version passed on September 11, 2025, but does not indicate Senate action within this document. Sponsors are not listed here.“Alien” and “removal” are immigration-law terms: alien means non-U.S. citizen; removal includes deportation or other formal/settled outcomes that end immigration proceedings. Consent to reapply or reentry is a key gatekeeping step under these provisions.

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