Single DWI now triggers automatic deportation—no judge discretion

What it does

This bill amends immigration law to make any non-citizen convicted of, or who admits to, driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI/DUI) automatically inadmissible to the U.S. and deportable if already present. The bar applies regardless of whether the offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony, and uses the definition of DWI/DUI from the jurisdiction where the offense occurred. Citizens convicted of DWI/DUI face potential deportation; non-citizens seeking entry are barred.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward expansion of deportation grounds for DWI/DUI offenses. It is not a tax measure, subsidy, or deregulation—it is a categorical immigration enforcement rule. The naming after deceased victims (Jeremy and Angel Seay, Sergeant Brandon Mendoza) signals a public-safety framing, but the mechanism itself is a mandatory deportation ground with no discretion.

What the text implies

• No judicial discretion or waiver authority: even a single misdemeanor DWI triggers mandatory deportation, with no consideration for family ties, length of U.S. residence, rehabilitation, or hardship to U.S. citizen relatives.
• Retroactive application risk: the bill does not specify whether it applies only to future convictions or also to past DWI/DUI convictions, potentially exposing long-term residents to sudden deportation.

The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.

Who it affects

The bill advances public safety by removing repeat DWI/DUI offenders from the country, which may reduce drunk-driving harm. However, it creates a categorical deportation rule with no discretion for rehabilitation, family ties, or proportionality—a non-citizen with a single misdemeanor DWI faces the same removal as a violent felon.