Early access: 15,549 bills from the current Congress so far, more added daily. Data from Congress.gov, GovInfo and the House and Senate vote records, updated Oct 13, 2026.
Public Law TrackerPLTPublic Law Tracker

H.R. 3486 · Where this bill is now

In the Senate

Passed the House Sep 11, 2025. Received Sep 15, 2025; no Senate vote yet

What this bill does

In plain words · AI-written from the official summary

Increases penalties for illegal reentry into US

This bill makes criminal penalties tougher for non-U.S. nationals who illegally enter the United States. It sets mandatory minimum prison sentences of 5 years (and allows life sentences) for people who illegally enter and then commit a felony. For people who repeatedly try to enter illegally, or who were previously removed and try to enter again, the bill increases maximum prison terms from 2 to 5 years for repeated entry, and from 2 to 10 years for those denied entry or removed who try again.

How it affects you

This bill doesn't directly affect most U.S. citizens. It would apply to non-U.S. nationals who attempt to enter the country illegally, particularly those with prior criminal records or multiple removal attempts. The changes would result in longer prison sentences for these individuals if prosecuted and convicted under these laws.

Read the official summary (Introduced in House, May 19, 2025)

Stop Illegal Reentry Act

This bill establishes or increases criminal penalties for certain non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) who illegally enter the United States and then commit a felony or illegally reenter the United States.

The bill establishes a mandatory minimum prison term of 5 years and allows a life sentence for an individual who (1) improperly enters, or attempts to improperly enter, the United States; and (2) is subsequently convicted of a felony.

The bill increases the maximum term of imprisonment from 2 years to 5 years for repeated improper entry.

The bill also increases from 2 years to 10 years the maximum term of imprisonment for an individual who had been denied entry into or removed from the United States and who later enters or attempts to enter without prior approval. The bill increases the maximum term of imprisonment from 10 to 15 years if such an individual was convicted of three or more specified types of misdemeanors before removal.

An individual who had been denied entry or removed three or more times and who later enters or attempts to enter the United States shall be fined, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both.

The bill establishes a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and allows a life sentence for an individual who was convicted of a felony before removal, or convicted of illegal reentry at least two times before removal, and who subsequently enters or tries to enter the United States.

Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.

119th Congress
1st Session
H. R. 3486

AN ACT

Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025

Passed HouseSep 11, 2025 · 226–197In the SenateNo vote yet

Sponsor: Rep. Stephanie I. Bice (R-OK-5) · Introduced May 19, 2025 · Immigration · 3 versions of the text

Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 15, 2025: “Received in the Senate.”

How Congress voted

Official roll calls

House · On Passage · Sep 11, 2025

Passed 226–197

YesNoDidn’t vote
PartyYesNoDidn’t vote
Democrats111975
Republicans21504

11 members voted against most of their party: 11 Democrats voted Yes.

Source: Clerk of the House · roll call 264

226–197Passed
DemocratsRepublicans

Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.

Sections

Opens on the most recent version where something changed
Sections · 1
H.R. 3486: Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025 — Bill Status, Votes and Text · Public Law Tracker