WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives approved sweeping immigration legislation this week, advancing the Stop Illegal Entry Act, a measure designed to tighten penalties on individuals who illegally enter the United States and commit crimes.
Backed by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the bill, formally known as HR 3468, raises mandatory prison sentences for repeat offenders and criminal reentrants, while also expanding penalties for those tied to human trafficking and drug smuggling.
The legislation sets a mandatory minimum prison term of five years for certain offenses and allows life sentences in the most serious cases. For individuals convicted of felonies before removal, those with multiple illegal reentry convictions, or those attempting to reenter unlawfully, penalties can escalate to a minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment.
Supporters of the bill said the changes would deter future unlawful entries and help curb the smuggling of fentanyl and other drugs across the southern border. “Unfettered immigration seriously endangers the safety of all Americans, especially women and children who are most vulnerable to trafficking,” Smith said in a statement.
The Stop Illegal Entry Act follows earlier passage of the Laken Riley Act, which strengthened deportation laws. Republicans argue both bills are necessary to counteract Biden-era immigration policies that they say allowed millions of migrants to cross the border without sufficient screening.
More than 400 individuals on the federal Terror Watch List were encountered at the border between 2020 and 2024, according to congressional reports cited by supporters of the legislation.
Smith urged the Senate to act quickly, calling on lawmakers to send the measure to President Trump’s desk for signature.
Key Points
- House passed HR 3468, the Stop Illegal Entry Act, to increase penalties for illegal reentry and related crimes.
- Bill allows sentences of up to life imprisonment for repeat offenders and those linked to human trafficking or drug smuggling.
- Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) called on the Senate to pass the legislation and send it to President Trump.