Republican lawmakers are advancing a legislative measure that would classify all Driving Under the Influence (DUI) convictions as deportable offenses for illegal immigrants, regardless of whether the offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony. The bill, introduced by Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., aims to close a loophole that has previously allowed illegal immigrants with DUI convictions to avoid deportation, a gap Republicans argue could be exploited by less aggressive administrations.
The Protect Our Communities From DUIs Act would clarify existing immigration statutes under the Immigration and Nationality Act to make it clear that all DUI convictions—whether classified as a misdemeanor or felony—are deportable. The law would also apply to illegal immigrants who have been convicted of or admit to committing acts that constitute the essential elements of a DUI offense, regardless of the legal classification under Federal, State, tribal, or local law.
Immigration hawks have long been concerned that administrations less eager to deport illegal immigrants may use loopholes or vague categorizations in existing code to make the argument that they don’t have, or cannot, deport certain people. The bill seeks to remove this ambiguity by explicitly labeling all DUI convictions as deportable. While not every DUI case is the same, the law would ensure that no illegal immigrant with a DUI conviction would be allowed to remain in the U.S., regardless of the severity of the offense.