Legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives would increase penalties for foreign residents who illegally enter or re-enter the United States.
The goal is to discourage migrants from coming to the United States illegally and to keep criminals out of the country.
The Stop Illegal Entry Act would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to increase the minimum sentence for any illegal alien who is convicted of a state or federal felony to five years in federal prison. Illegal aliens who re-entry after a felony conviction and deportation would faces 10 years to life in prison while any illegal re-entry would have a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison regardless of person’s criminal history.
“We must deter future illegal immigration and give our law enforcement and border patrol officers the tools they need to hold dangerous criminals accountable,” U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) who introduced the bill with U.S. Rep. Brad Knott (R-NC), said. “This is why I was proud to see my colleagues vote to pass the Stop Illegal Entry Act. This legislation increases penalties for illegal aliens who re-enter the United States, as well as those in the United States who have committed felonies.”
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.