Drive quietly or get — sent home.
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to make driving “while drunk or impaired” a deportable offence.
The measure, titled Protect Communities from DUIs Act, introduced by Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.), cleared the lower house 274 to 150, with only Democrats in opposition.
“Every 45 minutes. That’s how often someone in the United States dies in an accident involving an alcohol-impaired driver,” Moore said in his speech before his bill was passed.
He remembered a couple he knew personally, Angel and Jeremy Seay, from his hometown of Enterprise, Ala., who were killed in a drunken driving accident involving undocumented immigrants.
“Angel and Jeremy were riding their motorcycle together when an illegal immigrant under the influence of alcohol hit them with his pickup truck. Their lives were cut short. Unfortunately, tragedies like this are not unusual throughout our country,” he said.
On average, 37 people in the US are killed every day as a result of drunk driving, including 13,384 in 2021, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In all, 59 Democrats joined a solid bloc of 215 Republicans to pass the measure. Seven members of parliament did not vote. Moore first introduced the measure on Jan. 11.
Barry Moore opened up about a couple he knew who were killed in a car accident by illegal immigrants who were driving drunk.
Today, my legislation forcing President Biden to deport illegal immigrants who drive drunk or impaired was passed by the House.
I am grateful to me @HouseGOP colleagues for joining me to protect the American family by keeping these illegals off our streets. pic.twitter.com/y9G3Nea8Xi
— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) February 1, 2024
“Barriers to entry shall apply to individuals who have been convicted of the offense or have admitted to having committed acts constituting the elements of the offence. As grounds for deportation, the individual must have been convicted of the offense,” the text of the bill said.
The legislation aims to clarify any discrepancies between state and federal laws on whether undocumented immigrants can remain on US soil after they have been convicted of a DUI charge.
During a press conference in South Carolina where local Republicans showed their support for former President Donald Trump, a state lawmaker highlighted the death of six-year-old Maddie Hines in a car accident from illegal immigrants who were under the influence last year.
Over ten thousand Americans die each year from drunk driving. aijohn784 – stock.adobe.com
The suspect, Gabriel Arteaga, was deported under Trump but re-entered the US under President Biden.
Make America Great Again Inc., a Trump-aligned super PAC, found an old clip of Biden suggesting that drunk driving is not a criminal offense when asked if he would deport illegal immigrants over it during the 2020 election cycle.
“You’re only arresting for the purpose of dealing with a crime that’s been committed, and I don’t consider drunk driving a crime,” Biden said in the clip.
President Biden has been working to get Republicans to support the border security package. AFP via Getty Images
To become law, Moore’s bill must clear the Senate and get Biden’s signature.
During fiscal year 2023, which ends on September 30, more than 2.47 million migrant encounters were recorded along the Mexican border, according to US Customs and Border Protection.
A further 302,034 illegal border crossings were apprehended in December.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
