Senate bill looks to box out future presidents who may try to skirt immigration enforcement laws
Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., will introduce a measure this week to prevent illegal immigrants convicted of DUI from entering the U.S. and also make those living here clearly deportable.
The Protect Our Communities From DUIs Act would clarify existing law under the Immigration and Nationality Act that already makes illegal immigrants deportable for aggravated felonies and "crimes of moral turpitude."
Not every DUI case is the same, as some are misdemeanor offenses, some are charged as felonies, though all are considered crimes of moral turpitude.
Hagerty's bill would make any DUI conviction a deportable development regardless of misdemeanor or felony charges.
Immigration hawks have long been concerned that administrations less eager to deport illegal immigrants may utilize loopholes or vague categorizations in existing code to make the argument they don't have to or cannot deport certain people.
The bill makes clear that "any alien" who has been convicted of or admits committing "acts constituting the essential elements of an offense for driving while intoxicated or impaired … regardless of whether such conviction or offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under Federal, State, tribal, or local law" is deportable.
"During the Biden administration, our nation saw a surge in violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants, and they were not held accountable," Hagerty told Fox News Digital.
"It is unconscionable that illegal immigrants who break our laws and endanger our communities would be allowed to remain in the U.S. While President Trump is delivering on his promises and deporting criminal illegal aliens quickly and effectively, this bill would ensure that future administrations are on notice—aliens who drive drunk do not belong in our communities."
"I'm pleased to introduce this commonsense legislation that would strengthen President Trump's ability to hold illegal immigrants accountable and protect our citizens."
In that regard, former President Joe Biden threatened to fire ICE agents who deported criminal illegal aliens that had not committed felonies – adding he didn't "count" DUIs as felonies.
"[ICE should] only arrest for the purpose of dealing with a felony that's been committed," Biden said.
Speaking about such legislation on the House floor in June, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., said that "Republicans say 'of course not'" to allowing a "guest in this country [to stay] who endangers Americans while driving drunk."
"The Democrats say 'sure'," he added, going on to cite Biden's remark.
Sens. Ted Budd, R-N.C., Katie Britt, R-Ala., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Deb Fischer, R-Neb., James Lankford, R-Okla., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, have all signed onto Hagerty's legislation.
Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., drafted companion legislation in the House.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Teen Girl Endured Jealousy-Fueled Terror Before Throat Was Slashed — But Final Whisper Exposed Her Killer
Laurie Show was left to die on her bedroom floor — and two classmates were later convicted in the attackNEED TO KNOW Laurie Show, 16, was stabbed to death in her bedroom in 1991 — a murder prosecutors said was fueled by jealousy and planned by two classmates One of the killers, Tabitha Buck, posed as a school official to lure Laurie's mother away — then helped hold Laurie down while her throat was slit The killing was preceded by a months-long campaign of harassment. After her daughter's death, Laurie's mother pushed for Pennsylvania's first anti-stalking law, passed in 1993Laurie Show was just 16 when she was ambushed in her own bedroom — stabbed, slashed and left bleeding on the floor by classmates in what prosecutors would later call a murder fueled by teenage jealousy and rage. On the morning of Dec. 20, 1991, Laurie was found dying by her mother, Hazel Show, at her East Lampeter Township home in Lancaster County, Pa. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, her throat had been slit and more than two dozen defensive wounds were found on her body. She managed to whisper 'Michelle did it' as she lay dying, according to court transcripts cited by the Los Angeles Times. Police quickly identified three suspects: 19-year-old Lisa Michelle Lambert, 17-year-old Tabitha Buck, and 20-year-old Lawrence 'Butch' Yunkin. Lambert and Buck were classmates of Laurie's. The Inquirer reported that Lambert had become 'obsessively jealous' after Laurie briefly dated Yunkin the previous summer, and court documents noted Laurie had accused Yunkin of rape — a claim that intensified Lambert's hostility, per the outlet. Lambert and Buck systematically stalked and threatened Laurie, repeatedly calling the condo where she and her mother lived as well Laurie's workplace at the local mall. In one instance, Lambert punched Laurie at the mall — bystanders were too frightened to intervene, per the Inquirer. "Witness after witness told us of the threats of Lambert to kill Laurie, to kidnap Laurie, to harm Laurie, in any way possible by Lambert," prosecutor John Kenneff told ABC News. "And these were not necessarily Laurie Show's friends. Many of these [witnesses] were the friends and acquaintances of Lambert herself." Early on the morning of Dec. 20, Buck called Laurie's mother, Hazel, posing as a school counselor in order to lure the mother away. According to the Inquirer and the Los Angeles Times, this enabled Lambert and Buck to enter the home while Hazel was gone. Prosecutors said Buck held Laurie down while Lambert repeatedly stabbed her and slit her throat. Yunkin, who waited in a getaway car, later admitted under oath to disposing of evidence, including blood-stained clothing and the murder weapon, per a December 1991 arrest affidavit . All three suspects were apprehended later that day at a bowling alley. Police noted fresh scratch marks on Buck, and investigators found Laurie's makeup — a powder compact and mascara — in her purse. Yunkin struck a plea deal in exchange for his testimony, pleading guilty to third-degree murder. He later admitted to lying under oath and had his sentence increased; he was eventually paroled in 2003, according to WGAL. In July 1992, Lambert was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy; Buck, a minor at the time, was found guilty of second-degree murder. The Inquirer reported both received life sentences without parole. In 1997, U.S. District Judge Stewart Dalzell overturned Lambert's conviction during a federal habeas hearing, citing 'wholesale prosecutorial misconduct' including suppression of evidence and false testimony, according to ABC News. Dalzell declared Lambert 'actually innocent,' but his ruling was reversed in 1998 by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals on procedural grounds, leading to her return to prison. Now, Lambert remains behind bars. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Buck's case resurfaced following the 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision that deemed mandatory life sentences for juveniles unconstitutional. She was re-sentenced in 2017 to 28 years to life and was granted parole in late 2019, according to WGAL. She was released Dec. 21, 2019, at age 45, after nearly 28 years behind bars. Her parole is subject to strict conditions, including a ban on contact with Laurie's family and a prohibition on returning to Lancaster County, according to WGAL. Meanwhile, Hazel Show emerged as a leading advocate for anti-stalking legislation. According to the Los Angeles Times, her efforts led to the passage of Pennsylvania's first anti-stalking law — dubbed 'Laurie's Law' — in June 1993. 'Laurie was my life,' Hazel told Los Angeles Times reporters while campaigning for the bill. "I had to do something." Read the original article on People
UPI
26 minutes ago
- UPI
Senate heads into recess as Trump tells Schumer to 'go to hell'
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, speaks at a press conference calling on the administration to release the Epstein files in the U.S. Capitol building last week. File Photo by Annabelle Gordon/UPI | License Photo Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate began its month‑long recess Saturday night amid negotiations to advance the nomination of dozens of Donald Trump's pending nominees, as the president told Sen. Chuck Schumer to "go to hell" when the talks collapsed. Trump, in a post to his Truth Social platform on Saturday, had wanted the Senate to stay in session but accused Schumer of "political extortion" for allegedly demanding a billion dollars in funding in order to approve dozens of his remaining "highly qualified nominees" for appointment to the administration. A source familiar with Schumer's alleged demands told Axios that Schumer wants the White House to release withheld federal funding in exchange for passing a small batch of the nominees. "Tell Schumer, who is under tremendous political pressure from within his own party, the Radical Left Lunatics, to GO TO HELL!" Trump said in his post. "Do not accept the offer, go home and explain to your constituents what bad people the Democrats are, and what a great job the Republicans are doing, and have done, for our country." Schumer later shared Trump's post and quipped, "The Art of the Deal." He later added that Trump had "attempted to steamroll" the Senate into approving his "historically unqualified nominees." But the standoff has led Senate Republicans to express support for the possibility that Trump use recess appointments, a controversial constitutional mechanism that allows the president to "temporarily" fill vacant positions when the Senate is in recess. "The Senate should immediately adjourn and let President Trump use recess appointments to enact the agenda 77M Americans voted for," Sen. Roger Marshall posted on Saturday. Senate Republicans also indicated they might pursue a change to Senate rules after they return from recess to make it easier to pass through confirmations. Sen. Markwayne Mullin told Fox News that lawmakers would be moving forward with a rule change in September.
New York Times
26 minutes ago
- New York Times
OPEC Plus Will Increase Oil Output
Eight countries that belong to the oil cartel known as OPEC Plus said Sunday that they would boost oil production by 547,000 barrels a day beginning in September, the latest in a series of monthly increases that began in April. The move, in effect, reverses a program of 2.2 million barrels a day in output cuts that was put in place in 2023 to tighten supply and prop up the markets. The announcement from OPEC Plus was expected and so may have little impact on prices. 'We expect a limited negative market reaction,' analysts at the investment bank Jefferies said in a note to clients after the announcement. After years of pursuing production restraints, the group, led by Saudi Arabia, is taking advantage of what analysts view as a relatively short-term window in the oil market to boost output. The United Arab Emirates and other countries have chafed at restraints on production that have opened the way for the United States and other producers outside OPEC Plus to pump more oil. In addition, Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing countries appear to have an interest in pleasing President Trump, who wants lower gasoline prices for American drivers. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
