1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to H.R. 3486, the Stop Illegal Entry Act, which proposes significantly harsher criminal penalties for individuals who enter the United States without authorization. This bill takes a deeply punitive approach that fails to address the root causes of migration and disproportionately targets vulnerable individuals, including asylum seekers and families fleeing violence, persecution, and poverty. Lengthening jail and prison sentences for unauthorized entry does not improve public safety, nor does it reflect our values as a nation built by immigrants. Criminalizing desperation with extended incarceration is not only inhumane but also costly and ineffective. It will overwhelm our already strained criminal justice and immigration systems and lead to the unnecessary detention of people whose primary “offense” is seeking a better life. Furthermore, harsh sentencing does not deter migration; it simply inflicts more suffering on people already in crisis. What we need instead are compassionate, pragmatic reforms that uphold human rights, streamline legal pathways, and invest in the infrastructure needed to process immigration cases fairly and efficiently. I urge you to oppose H.R. 3486 and to support immigration policies that are just, humane, and effective. We must address immigration challenges with dignity, not incarceration.