House bill would raise illegal entry prison terms up to fivefold
Passed one chamberH.R. 3486Latest action
Sponsor: Stephanie I. Bice · Representative · OK
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025
119th Congress
Topics: Immigration
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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HR 3486 would raise the max sentence for illegal entry from 2 to 5 years and illegal reentry from 2 to 10 years.
65-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
HR 3486 increases federal prison sentences for illegal entry and illegal reentry into the United States. The maximum sentence for illegal entry would rise from 2 years to 5 years, and the maximum for illegal reentry would rise from 2 years to 10 years. The bill also adds mandatory minimum sentences, including a 5-year floor for illegal entrants later convicted of a crime carrying more than a year in prison, and a 10-year mandatory minimum for deported individuals who had a felony conviction before removal.
Who does it affect?
The bill directly affects non-citizens who enter the US without legal permission or who return after being deported, particularly those with prior criminal convictions. Federal courts and prosecutors would also be affected, as they would be required to apply the new mandatory minimum sentences in qualifying cases.
Why does it matter?
People who illegally enter and are later convicted of another crime punishable by more than one year would face at least 5 years in prison, with no stated upper limit in that scenario. Someone deported three or more times who re-enters could face up to 15 years, and someone with a prior felony who re-enters could face a mandatory 10 years with no ceiling on the sentence.
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Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedMay 19, 2025
- House committee
- House vote
- SenateYou are here · Sep 15, 2025
- The president's desk
Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Received in the Senate.
Recorded votes
Roll-call votes recorded since January 3, 2025.
House · · Roll call 264
As recorded
- Question
- On Passage
- Result:
- Passed
- 226
- Nay
- 197
- 0
- 9
Republicans 215 yes, 4 not voting · Democrats 11 yes, 197 no, 5 not voting
Official recordHow members voted
The official record lists how each member voted.Official record