Tag: Mandatory Minimums

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice The House voted 226–197 to pass the Stop Illegal Entry Act of 2025 (H.R. 3486). The bill updates 8 U.S.C. § 1325 and § 1326, the federal laws on illegal entry and reentry, and was received in the Senate on September 15, where it now awaits committee consideration. For first-time offenders, the penalty doesn’t change — up to six months in jail. But, anyone caught crossing again could face up to five years in prison and a fine. The bill also sets penalties for people who try to help others cross illegally. The biggest changes involve reentry after deportation. The baseline remains up to two years. But if someone has three or more misdemeanors involving drugs or crimes against others, or any felony, the maximum rises to 10...