HR3242-119

What This Bill Does

The Punishing Illegal Immigrant Felons Act of 2025 significantly increases prison sentences for people who enter the United States illegally and are subsequently convicted of crimes. It amends existing immigration law to impose harsher penalties for both initial illegal entry and re-entry after deportation, with the harshest penalties for those who commit felonies.

Who Benefits and How

U.S. citizens and communities may benefit from potentially reduced crime if longer sentences deter illegal entry by individuals who might commit crimes. Law enforcement agencies gain clearer, stronger statutory authority to prosecute and imprison unauthorized immigrants convicted of crimes. The federal prison system will see increased funding needs due to longer mandatory sentences.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Unauthorized immigrants face dramatically increased prison time: illegal entry penalties increase from 2 to 5 years, and re-entry after deportation increases from 2 to 10 years. Those convicted of any crime punishable by more than one year face an additional mandatory 5-year sentence on top of their original sentence. Taxpayers will bear the cost of longer incarceration periods for a larger prison population.

Key Provisions

• Increases the maximum penalty for first-time illegal entry from 2 years to 5 years imprisonment
• Increases the penalty for re-entry after deportation from 2 years to 10 years imprisonment
• Adds a mandatory 5-year sentence for any unauthorized immigrant convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year
• Raises penalties for re-entry after deportation following a felony conviction from 10 years to 15 years
• Expands the definition of prior convictions that trigger enhanced penalties to include any felony or crime punishable by more than one year