# 119-hr-3242: Punishing Illegal Immigrant Felons Act of 2025

119-hr-3242, Punishing Illegal Immigrant Felons Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Knott, Brad [R-NC-13] (R-NC); status introduced (as of 2026-04-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3242
- As of: 2026-04-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-3242
- Congress: 119
- Title: Punishing Illegal Immigrant Felons Act of 2025
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-05-07
- Sponsor: Rep. Knott, Brad [R-NC-13] (R-NC)
- Cosponsors: 34
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-04-21

## Summary

**Raises mandatory prison time for noncitizens who enter unlawfully or return after removal.** This bill would increase baseline prison terms, create new mandatory minimums for certain unlawful-entry and post-removal offenses, and broaden which crimes trigger enhanced penalties. - Noncitizens who improperly enter: Would change the law to set a 5-year baseline prison term and create a 5-year mandatory minimum for anyone who improperly enters and is later convicted of a crime punishable by more than 1 year. - Noncitizens previously removed: Would raise the baseline penalty to 10 years and increase the enhanced term to 15 years while expanding qualifying offenses to include aggravated felonies and any felony as defined by the convicting jurisdiction. - Sentencing and fines: Would require judges to impose the new minimums in covered cases and ties enhanced penalties to fines under Title 18 of the U.S. Code.

## Cosponsors (34)

- Rep. Fry, Russell [R-SC-7] (R-SC), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2] (R-KS), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10] (R-NC), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11] (R-NC), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8] (R-NC), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McDowell, Addison P. [R-NC-6] (R-NC), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Tim [R-NC-14] (R-NC), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Messmer, Mark B. [R-IN-8] (R-IN), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3] (R-MO), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3] (R-IN), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (R-NJ), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6] (R-KY), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8] (R-FL), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8] (R-MN), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5] (R-WA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Collins, Mike [R-GA-10] (R-GA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21] (R-NY), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21] (R-TX), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5] (R-AZ), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-21] (R-FL), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1] (R-AL), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Gabe [R-CO-8] (R-CO), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-7] (R-GA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jack, Brian [R-GA-3] (R-GA), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hunt, Wesley [R-TX-38] (R-TX), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hudson, Richard [R-NC-9] (R-NC), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3] (R-UT), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2] (R-MT), 2025-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Craig A. [R-TX-12] (R-TX), 2025-05-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7] (R-NC), 2025-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large] (R-WY), 2025-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2] (R-IA), 2025-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2] (R-OK), 2025-11-19T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Harsher penalties for unlawful entry and reentry: cost, high. If enacted, this bill would raise criminal penalties for unlawful entry and reentry by noncitizens. For improper entry, the maximum prison term would rise from 2 years to 5 years. If someone who improperly entered is later convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year, they would get at lea…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act
- 119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025
- 119-hres-719: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles Charlie James Kirk.
- 119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025
- 119-hr-452: Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-3242 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3242)

## Related
- [119-hr-425: Repealing Big Brother Overreach Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-425)
- [119-hr-38: Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-38)
- [119-hres-719: Honoring the life and legacy of Charles Charlie James Kirk.](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-719)
- [119-hr-1628: 761st Tank Battalion Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1628)
- [119-hr-1422: Enhanced Iran Sanctions Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1422)
- [119-hr-452: Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-452)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3242 (as of 2026-04-21).
