U.S. Rep. Diane Black has introduced a bill that would make first-time illegal border crossing a felony.
On Tuesday, Black introduced the “Zero Tolerance for Illegal Entry Act.”
"The United States government should never prioritize illegal immigrants over American citizens. We must have a zero tolerance policy when it comes to illegal border crossings and sanctuary cities, and we must give ICE the resources they need to do their job as they protect our nation. By no longer creating incentives to come to our country unlawfully, we also discourage families from sending their children on an often dangerous journey to reach our southern border.
The Zero Tolerance for Illegal Entry Act works hand in hand with law enforcement to ensure that we are doing all we can to uphold the dignity of our border. President Trump has been clear about illegal immigration from day one, and we know that he is committed to protecting our nation for future generations. We must do all we can to deter the criminal abuse of our border – it has gone on for far too long.”
Illegally crossing the border is currently a misdemeanor and carries six months of incarceration. The bill would “establish a minimum prison sentence of one year and one day.”
The bill would also remove funding from sanctuary cities and redirect it to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Click here to view the bill.
