Drunk driving in US could illegal immigrants deported, if new bill is passed

Immigrants in the US might now end up facing not just prison but also deportation for driving under the influence. The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that allows the deportation of illegal immigrants convicted of driving or admitted to the offence of driving under the influence of alcohol.

The bill was introduced by conservative Representative Barry Moore, and was passed on Thursday by a 246 to 160 vote, according to a report by Fox News.

No Republicans voted against the bill, and it was opposed by 160 Democrats, the report added. Several Democrats also voted in favour of the bill.

Republican Moore said the House vote signals tougher consequences for undocumented DUI offenders who endanger American lives.

"Today's vote in the House sends a clear message: if you are a guest in this country, and you break our laws and put American lives at risk by driving under the influence, there will be consequences," Moore said in a statement issued on Thursday.

"I introduced the Jeremy and Angel Seay and Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act because too many families in Alabama and across the nation have experienced tragedy due to illegals driving under the influence when they should never have been here in the first place," he added.

DEMOCRATS OPPOSED THE BILL, CALL IT FEARMONGERING

Democrats who opposed the bill argued it was an attempt at fearmongering.

A US Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon said there was a lack of evidence linking immigration to drunk-driving.

"I participated in the judiciary hearings that led to this bill being sent to the floor, and I carefully reviewed the majority report. There's absolutely no evidence in that hearing or report showing a causal connection between immigration status and drunk driving," Scanlon said when the House Rules Committee debated the bill earlier this week, according to Fox News.

"And most notably, for all this talk, this legislation takes no real meaningful action to repair our broken immigration system," she added.

The bill, named the Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act, is so important.

The bill is named after Jeremy and Angel Seay, a couple from Moore's own community who were killed by an illegal immigrant who was found to have been drunk driving, Fox News reported, citing Moore.

It is also named in honour of Brandon Mendoza, a slain Arizona police officer who was killed by an illegal immigrant driving under the influence.

The bill must now pass the Senate before being sent to President Donald Trump for final approval.

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