Illegal immigrants who kill or seriously injure Americans by driving drunk would be deported and permanently barred from reentry into the United States under new legislation introduced on April 15 by U.S. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Dave Joyce (R-OH).
“Drunk driving destroys lives and tears families apart,” Rep. Kim said. “When it involves illegal aliens who shouldn’t have been here in the first place, it’s entirely preventable.”
The congresswoman sponsored the Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act, H.R. 8302, alongside three Republican original cosponsors, including Rep. Joyce, to amend the definition of aggravated felony in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to include certain serious drunk driving offenses.
“This bill is simple and enforces what should already be common sense,” said Rep. Kim. “If you enter our country illegally, get behind the wheel drunk, and hurt innocent Americans, you will be deported and never allowed back.”
Under current federal law, drunk driving is not consistently treated as a stand-alone ground for deportation, allowing illegal aliens who commit such crimes to avoid removal from the U.S. and sometimes even re-offend when released.
If enacted, H.R. 8302 would classify driving under the influence offenses resulting in death or serious bodily injury as aggravated felonies under the INA and make offenders permanently ineligible for immigration status, including asylum and Lawful Permanent Resident status, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Kim’s staff.
“This legislation strengthens immigration law and ensures that illegal aliens committing these crimes can never enter our country and put Americans in danger again,” Rep. Joyce said. “Too many lives have been lost to impaired drivers. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing common-sense legislation to help fight this issue.”
The legislation, which is endorsed by the Border Trade Alliance, FAIR, and NumbersUSA, has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.