150 Democrats Vote Against Bill to Deport Illegal Immigrants Convicted of DUIs

Republicans voice frustration on social media

In a recent legislative session, approximately 150 House Democrats opposed a bill that sought to permit the deportation of illegal immigrants convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Representative Barry Moore, the bill's sponsor, highlighted the urgency of the issue, stating, “In the United States, someone dies in a crash with an impaired driver every 45 minutes.” Moore, who lost constituents to an accident involving an illegal immigrant under the influence, emphasized the need to protect American families from such tragedies.

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The bill, officially known as HR 6976, passed in the House of Representatives with a vote of 274-150, with seven members abstaining. It aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act, making aliens convicted of or committing DUI offenses both inadmissible and deportable.

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While all Republicans voted in favor of the bill, 59 Democrats also supported it, including some identified by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as vulnerable in the upcoming 2024 elections. Notably, several prominent Democrats, including Adam Schiff, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, opposed the measure.

Representative Jerry Nadler, among those who voted against the bill, stressed the importance of public transportation and ride-sharing programs as alternatives to driving under the influence. He accused Republicans of scapegoating immigrants instead of working on effective solutions.

The bill's sponsor, Representative Moore, expressed disappointment with the Democratic opposition, citing historical instances where Democrats voted against amendments restricting green cards for immigrants with DUI convictions. He also noted President Biden's previous stance, where he expressed a lenient view on deporting immigrants for DUI offenses.

In a parallel development, House Republicans have initiated impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of "dereliction of duty" in addressing the surge in illegal border crossings. Democrats, on the other hand, have criticized Republicans for scrutinizing a yet-to-be-disclosed border deal being negotiated in the Senate.

The backdrop of these legislative actions includes a record 3.2 million encounters with illegal immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in the fiscal year ending October 1. President Biden's earlier comments about changing the culture of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and guidelines issued by ICE in February 2021, indicating a shift away from deporting immigrants for DUI offenses, have contributed to the ongoing debate.

Instances of tragic accidents involving illegal immigrant drunk drivers, such as the 2010 death of Sister Denise Mosier and the 2018 death of Edwin Jackson, have intensified the discussion. A recent case involving an illegal immigrant who has been deported four times, facing drunk driving charges after a fatal accident in Colorado, has also brought attention to the issue.

Contrary to public perception, a 2021 study by the Cato Institute found no correlation between areas with higher levels of illegal immigrants and increased drunk driving deaths. The contentious debate continues, with Democrats divided on the deportation bill while Republicans push for stricter immigration measures.