Last Thursday, September 11, the US House of Representatives passed H.R. 3486, the “Stop Illegal Entry Act,” as an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This bill aims to strengthen penalties against foreign nationals who enter or re-enter the US illegally, including those with prior criminal convictions.
The bill was approved with a vote of 226 to 197, with all 215 Republican members and 11 Democratic members supporting it.
The bill has now been sent to the federal Senate for review.
Introduced by Representative Stephanie Bice, a Republican from Oklahoma, on May 19, the bill was one of the first pieces of legislation taken up by the House after the August recess.
The legislation seeks to increase penalties for illegal entry or re-entry into the US, especially for individuals with criminal records.
Some specific provisions of the bill include:
– Increasing the maximum sentence for illegal entry from 2 years to 5 years.
– Individuals who re-enter the US after deportation could face up to 10 years in prison, with harsher penalties for repeat offenders.
– Illegal entrants who are later convicted of serious crimes may face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years.
– Repeat offenders who re-enter the US could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, with the possibility of life imprisonment.
Supporters argue that this bill, through common-sense reforms, will effectively deter repeated illegal entry and ensure public safety.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, stated, “This bill defends the rule of law and sends a clear message: violating our laws will have serious consequences, criminal illegal immigrants have no place in our country, and House Republicans vow to defend the integrity of the law.”
The Trump administration also expressed strong support for the bill through a “Statement of Administration Policy,” noting that if the bill is submitted in its current form to the President, his advisers will recommend signing it into law.
However, Mike Zamore, Director of Policy and Government Affairs at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) based in New York City, argued that the bill will facilitate deportations of illegal immigrants, “damaging our economy and destabilizing communities.” He expressed concern that with federal agents and military personnel deployed in major cities, this legislation will give the Trump administration more tools to criminalize immigration.
(Adapted from a report by FAIRUS)