The United States House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3486, the Stop Illegal Entry Act, introduced by Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Oklahoma City). The bill seeks to increase penalties for individuals who illegally enter or reenter the United States, aiming to deter unlawful immigration and keep criminal offenders out of American communities.
Rep. Bice worked on the legislation with Congressman Brad Knott (NC-13), while Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate. The White House has expressed support for the measure, indicating that presidential advisors would recommend signing it into law.
Congresswoman Bice commented on the passage:
“The Biden Administration let over 10 million illegal immigrants into the country and failed to prosecute those who defied U.S. immigration law. These individuals included people from countries designated as state sponsors of terror, with 400 illegal aliens on the Terrorist Watch List being encountered at the border. We must deter future illegal immigration and give our law enforcement and border patrol officers the tools they need to hold dangerous criminals accountable. 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. President Trump has delivered on his promise to secure the border, but we have more work to do to safeguard and protect our communities. This is another step in the right direction.”
Speaker Johnson also issued a statement following passage:
“President Trump’s bold actions to secure our border have demonstrated deterrence is an effective method of prevention, and the Stop Illegal Entry Act delivers the enforcement measures necessary to help strengthen law and order at our border. This legislation includes commonsense provisions that impose serious penalties on those who repeatedly and deliberately violate U.S. immigration law – especially violent criminal aliens. By targeting repeat offenders and imposing harsh penalties on violent felons who re-enter after deportation, this bill defends the rule of law and sends an unmistakable message: if you break our laws, there will be severe consequences. Criminal illegal aliens have no place in this country, and House Republicans are committed to uphold the integrity of our laws.”
Congressman Knott added:
“As a federal prosecutor, I encountered illegal alien criminals who repeatedly reentered the United States after deportation to continue committing crimes against Americans. This pervasive trend will continue, causing endless harm, unless we implement serious deterrents targeting this class of dangerous criminals. The Stop Illegal Entry Act closes that loophole by enabling efficient convictions with strong penalties whenever an illegal immigrant commits a felony or attempts to come back into the country after deportation. I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and urge the Senate to get this bill on President Trump’s desk quickly.”
Key provisions of H.R. 3486 include amending existing immigration laws so that any non-citizen convicted of a felony faces at least five years in federal prison; any instance of unlawful re-entry may result in up to ten years imprisonment regardless of prior criminal history; while someone returning after both a felony conviction and deportation could face ten years up to life behind bars.
Stephanie Bice currently serves as U.S Representative for Oklahoma’s 5th district after replacing Kendra Horn in 2021 (https://bice.house.gov/about). She previously served in Oklahoma’s state senate from 2014 until her election to Congress (https://bice.house.gov/about/biography). Born in Oklahoma City in 1973, Bice resides there today.
