Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., introduced legislation Tuesday that would reclassify a first-time illegal entry at the border as a felony instead of a misdemeanor.

Her Zero Tolerance for Illegal Entry Act would change the punishment for those apprehended illegally entering the U.S. for the first time to one year and one day in prison, which therefore makes it a felony. Today, the misdemeanor offense comes with jail term of up to six months.

The Tennessee lawmaker said she is proposing the change because she believes it would prevent would-be illegal entrants from coming to the U.S., and encourage migrants to apply for asylum at ports of entry instead of using smugglers to travel to the U.S.-Mexico border then cross between ports.

[More: Asylum claims surge 800% despite 30% drop in Central American murders, violence]

"What this bill does is it sets up a huge disincentive," she told the Washington Examiner. "There is already a process set up and they should be using what the process is … We’re not penalizing people are who doing things the right way seeking asylum. This is for people who are going around the system."

Black's bill also seeks to strip federal funding from the more than 400 sanctuary cities and counties that do not honor U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents requests for illegal immigrants in local law enforcement's custody. Her bill would sent that money to ICE, which she said could use the funding.

The legislation includes a stricter mandate of E-Verify, an online program that allows employers to verify applicants have legal permission to work in the U.S.

Black said committee chairs have expressed interest in her bill ahead of its Tuesday roll-out, and said her focus is on getting enough co-sponsors so GOP leaders will consider bringing up the bill for a vote.