The House passed a bill that would allow the immediate deportations of illegal immigrants who drive under the influence. The bill was introduced by conservative Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., and passed by a 246 to 160 vote. No Republicans voted against the bill but 160 Democrats opposed the bill. The legislation would have to be taken up by the Senate and then signed into law by President Donald Trump to go into effect.“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.Democrats who voted for the legislation include Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, as well as moderate Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., Jared Golden, D-Maine, Laura Gillen, D-N.Y., Don Davis, D-N.C., and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., among others.Democrats who opposed the passage of the bill argued that it was an attempt at fearmongering.“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,” Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., said when the House Rules Committee debated the bill earlier this week.“And most notably, for all this talk, this legislation takes no real meaningful action to repair our broken immigration system.”
What is the Act? How will it affect?
The full name of the Act is the Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act. It is named after Jeremy and Angel Seaym, a couple from Moore who were killed by an illegal immigrant who was driving under the influence. The name also included Brandon Mendoza, a police officer, who was killed by an illegal immigrant who was driving under the influence. If convicted of DUI, non-citizens will get deported under this Act.
