Fargo Standard

Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) voted in favor of H.R. 3486, known as the Stop Illegal Entry Act. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 226-197. The bill aims to impose stricter penalties on migrants who illegally enter or reenter the United States.

“North Dakotans know that a nation without secure borders is a nation at risk. For too long, President Biden encouraged chaos at our southern border. His administration’s refusal to act led to a record number of illegal immigrants, including human traffickers and terrorists, entering our country,” Fedorchak said. “Thankfully, President Trump has restored order at the border by enforcing the laws already on the books. Today’s action builds on this success by strengthening existing law, helping make sure illegal migrants think twice before breaking America’s laws.”

Supporters of the bill cite figures from the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, which reported that under current policies, over 10 million unvetted migrants entered the U.S. from more than 160 countries during recent years. Concerns were raised about an increase in human trafficking and exploitation of migrant children during this period.

A March 2025 report from DHS OIG indicated that more than 65,000 reports regarding migrant children—including over 7,300 related to human trafficking—were ignored or dismissed by authorities.

The number of prosecutions for illegal entry cases dropped below 1,000 per month between January 2021 and January 2024. In fiscal year 2023, more than seventy percent of those charged with illegal reentry had prior criminal records.

The Stop Illegal Entry Act introduces mandatory minimum sentences: five years for those convicted of illegal entry following a felony conviction and ten years for felony offenders who reenter after removal. It authorizes life sentences for certain repeat offenders and increases penalties for repeated improper entry—raising maximum sentences from two to five years and up to ten years for reentry after removal. Offenders with multiple misdemeanors or felony convictions could face enhanced penalties of up to fifteen years under this legislation.