House · HR 875 · 119th Congress
Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025
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Summary
This bill makes any DUI or DWI offense a reason to bar a non-citizen from entering the United States or to deport them. It covers convictions at any level, from minor misdemeanors to felonies. It affects non-citizens seeking entry and those already living legally in the country.
In Favor
Federal courts have long disagreed on whether a DUI counts as a removable offense, so outcomes depend on which circuit a non-citizen lands in. This bill fixes that by creating one clear federal rule that applies everywhere. A non-citizen's deportation risk should not change based on geography alone.
Against
This bill could deport long-term legal residents for a single minor DUI, even when no one was hurt. Some state laws count sitting in a parked car while drunk as a DUI offense. The bill gives no wiggle room for judges to weigh how serious the offense actually was.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
The bill adds driving while intoxicated or impaired as a reason to bar a non-citizen from entering the United States or to remove one already here. It changes two sections of existing immigration law.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The bill's provisions stay focused on its stated purpose. It covers both the bar on entry and removal, applying to misdemeanor and felony offenses alike across all U.S. jurisdictions.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
Non-citizens, including green card holders, students, and visa holders, face new grounds for removal or a bar on entry. Federal immigration agencies gain new duties to apply and enforce these added grounds.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill authorizes no spending and sets no fees. It shifts new duties onto federal immigration agencies to apply the added grounds, and onto immigration courts to handle any resulting cases.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
DUI laws differ by state, and some states define the offense to include sitting in a parked car while intoxicated. Applying one federal rule across all those varied local definitions may create uneven outcomes.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 6/5/2026