197 Democrats oppose measure increasing penalties on undocumented immigrants

House Democrats Oppose New Immigration Penalty Bill

Approximately 200 House Democrats voted against a newly proposed law imposing harsher penalties for illegal immigration.

The legislation, known as the Stop Illegal Entry Act and spearheaded by Representative Stephanie Bice from Oklahoma, aims to increase penalties for individuals who unlawfully enter the United States and those who commit felonies following their illegal entry. The House passed the bill with a vote of 226-197 just before lawmakers adjourned for the weekend.

Notably, all 197 dissenting votes were from Democratic representatives, although 11 Democrats broke ranks and supported the bill alongside Republicans.

House GOP leadership expressed frustration over the Democratic opposition. They, including GOP Whip Tom Emmer from Minnesota, criticized the Democrats for adhering to what they perceive as directives from President Biden and Vice President Harris, labeling their stance as unwise, especially in the context of immigration issues that affected the GOP significantly in recent elections.

Critics argue that the Biden administration has failed to effectively manage migration issues, including the estimated 10 million undocumented immigrants currently in the country, and they’ve raised concerns over security from nationals of countries designated as sponsors of terrorism.

The legislation proposes that individuals who illegally enter the U.S. and are later convicted of a felony could face up to five years in prison. Additionally, the bill seeks to extend the maximum penalty for illegal entry from two to five years.

Some Democrats, including Representative Laura Gillen from New York, publicly expressed their support for the bill, stating that it’s aligned with common sense and the desires of the American public. Gillen emphasized that most Americans believe violent criminals without legal status should be held accountable and that the prior administration’s border policies contributed to a crisis affecting public safety and fiscal responsibility.

Among the Democrats who backed the bill are Representatives Henry Cuellar (Texas), Don Davis (North Carolina), Jared Golden (Maine), Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), Adam Gray (California), and Tom Suozzi (New York).