This just in, the United States House of Representatives passed legislation allowing for deportation of illegal aliens and other noncitizens convicted of DUI, DWI and driving under the influence in any state.

Can a single DUI get you deported? Yes, if the recent bill becomes law.

The House passed the Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025 on June 26, 2025:SEC. 2. Inadmissibility and deportability related to driving while intoxicated or impaired. The new law is also referred to as the “Protect our Communities from DUI’s Act” and would amend the immigration laws to provide for:

(a) Inadmissibility.—Section 212(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:“(J) DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED OR IMPAIRED.—Any alien who has been convicted of, who admits having committed, or who admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of an offense for driving while intoxicated or impaired, as those terms are defined under the law of the jurisdiction where the conviction, offense, or acts constituting the essential elements of the offense occurred (including an offense for driving while under the influence of or impaired by alcohol or drugs), without regard to whether the conviction or offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under Federal, State, tribal, or local law, is inadmissible.”.

(b) Deportability.—Section 237(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:“(G) DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED OR IMPAIRED.—Any alien who has been convicted of an offense for driving while intoxicated or impaired, as those terms are defined under the law of the jurisdiction where the conviction occurred (including a conviction for driving while under the influence of or impaired by alcohol or drugs), without regard to whether the conviction is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under Federal, State, tribal, or local law, is deportable.”.Similar bill – H.R.6976 – Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act was also passed house during the 118th Session.

This legislation would mean any undocumented immigrant and many other noncitizens would be subject to immediate removal and deportation from the United States. This new law can have a significant impact on permanent lawful residents (green card holders), temporary visitors and obviously unlawful, undocumented immigrants.

This new law would dramatically increase the consequences for a noncitizen arrested for DUI. It would be critically important to beat the charges or get them dismissed in order to avoid the consequence of deportation.

In recent months ICE agents have been observed detaining noncitizens who have been arrested for minor offenses such as drunk driving. These detentions of aliens for DUI now appear to be part of a larger trend towards deporting and denying citizenship to anyone with a history of alcohol related driving offenses.

Any noncitizen arrested and those accused of or charged with driving under the influence, DUI, DWI or any impaired driving violation should certainly consult a criminal defense attorney and immigration lawyer before pleading guilty, no contest or admitting to the charges.