EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Stephanie Bice rolling out legislation to enhance penalties for illegally entering America

Rep. Stephanie Bice and Sen. Ted Cruz are teaming up to crack down on repeat illegal entrants into the United States.

Rep. Stephanie Bice (R., Okla.) is making a legislative push obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter, that would increase penalties on illegal immigrants who attempt to reenter the United States following an initial deportation.

Bice’s legislation, called the Stop Illegal Entry Act, will increase criminal penalties for certain aliens who illegally reenter the United States after removal or exclusion.

The Oklahoma lawmaker noted that her bill comes after unprecedented successes from the White House, but that Congress still has to do its part. “President [Donald] Trump has delivered on his promise to secure the border, but we have more work to do to safeguard and protect our communities,” she said.

For years, Republicans and some Democrats have tried to pass measures like this into law. Earlier versions, named in honor of Kate Steinle, an Iowa student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant, have received over 250 votes.

Now, Bice thinks that the time is right, following four years of an open border under President Joe Biden. “The Biden administration let over 10 million illegal immigrants into the country, and failed to prosecute those who defied U.S. immigration law,” she explained. “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.”

Under Bice’s law, which she is rolling out with five co-sponsors, any illegal alien who is convicted of a state or federal felony faces a minimum sentence of 5 years in federal prison, any illegal re-entry warrants up to 10 years in prison regardless of criminal history, any illegal re-entry after a felony conviction and deportation faces 10 years to life in prison.

The Senate companion to Bice’s bill is being introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas).