House Approves Bill to Tighten Immigration Policies for Noncitizen DUI Offenders

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a measure to make it easier to deport or prohibit noncitizens convicted of drunk driving from receiving citizenship. With the support of all 215 Republicans and 59 Democrats, the measure was approved by a vote of 274 to 150 on Feb. 1, moving forward to the Senate for approval. DUI convictions are already subject to deportation in certain circumstances, and individuals aiming to obtain residency are currently made aware of the fact that such a conviction can impede the process of reestablishing their status. “Every day in the United States, around 37 people die due to a drunk driver – that’s one person every 39 minutes. Drunk driving is a dangerous crime that not only puts the driver at risk, but everyone else on the road,” Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) wrote in a Jan. 28 note previewing the bill....