From Fox News: Nearly 200 House Democrats opposed legislation that will target criminal penalties for illegal immigrants.
A bill called the “Stop Illegal Entry Act,” led by Rep. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., is aimed at hiking penalties for both people who enter the U.S. illegally and those who commit felonies after that illegal entry. It passed the House in a 226-197 vote on Thursday, just before lawmakers left Washington for the weekend.
All 197 “no” votes were Democrats, while 11 Democrats voted with Republicans to pass the bill.
“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,” Bice told Fox News Digital.
The report explains that the bill would mandate a sentence of five years to life in prison for anyone who illegally enters the U.S. and is then convicted of a felony.
The bill would also increase the maximum prison sentence for illegal entry from two years to five years, while increasing the maximum term for someone who comes illegally, despite being previously denied entry from two years to 10 years, Fox News writes.
The 11 Democrats who joined Republicans to pass the bill were:
- Laura Gillen, D-N.Y.
- Henry Cuellar, D-Texas
- Don Davis, D-N.C.
- Jared Golden, D-Maine
- Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas
- Adam Gray, D-Calif.
- Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Mich.
- Frank Mrvan, D-Ind.
- Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash.
- Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y.
- Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M.
“In a bipartisan fashion, the House just passed my bill, the Stop Illegal Entry Act. This legislation increases penalties for illegal migrants who re-enter our country, as well as those in the U.S. who have committed felonies. @POTUS delivered on his promise to secure the border, but we have more work to do to safeguard and protect our communities,” Bice announced.
🚨 In a bipartisan fashion, the House just passed my bill, the Stop Illegal Entry Act. This legislation increases penalties for illegal migrants who re-enter our country, as well as those in the U.S. who have committed felonies. @POTUS delivered on his promise to secure the… pic.twitter.com/4BA7Ewo0kd
— Rep. Stephanie Bice (@RepBice) September 11, 2025
Despite 197 Democrats voting AGAINST punishing dangerous criminal illegal aliens – including narcoterrorists, murderers, rapists, and other felons – @HouseGOP passed my bill with @RepBice signaling a major victory for the American people. @POTUS said he’s ready to sign, so I… pic.twitter.com/BHSCKsmNKD
— Congressman Brad Knott (@RepKnott) September 11, 2025
The bill now must be passed by the Senate before it could be sent to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) wrote, “Today’s House passage of the Stop Illegal Entry Act is a victory for securing our border. I’m proud to have consistently championed its companion bill, Kate’s Law, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass it expeditiously. We need to continue taking decisive action to clean up the Biden Administration’s disastrous border crisis and ensures it never happens again.”
Today’s House passage of the Stop Illegal Entry Act is a victory for securing our border.
I’m proud to have consistently championed its companion bill, Kate’s Law, and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass it expeditiously.
We need to continue taking decisive action to…
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) September 11, 2025
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