Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8302
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-15: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-22T19:09:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
H.R. 8302: Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act
Purpose
This bill aims to expand the definition of an aggravated felony (a serious crime category under immigration law that triggers deportation and bars entry for non-citizens) in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to include certain drunk driving offenses that cause death or serious bodily injury. The goal is to make non-citizens convicted of these offenses deportable and inadmissible to the U.S.
Key Provisions
- Adds Drunk Driving to Aggravated Felonies (Section 2): Amends INA Section 101(a)(43) by inserting a new subparagraph (U), classifying as an aggravated felony any conviction for driving while intoxicated, impaired, or under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or other illegal intoxicating substances if it:
- Results in death or serious bodily injury (defined as significant harm requiring medical treatment) to another person.
- Applies regardless of whether the conviction is a misdemeanor or felony under federal, state, tribal, or local law.
- New Inadmissibility Ground (Section 3): Amends INA Section 212(a)(2) by adding subparagraph (F), making non-citizens inadmissible (barred from entering the U.S. or obtaining immigration benefits) if convicted of, or admitting to, an offense matching the new aggravated felony definition.
- Effective Date and Application (Section 4):
- Takes effect on the date of enactment.
- Applies to immigration actions (e.g., deportation proceedings) on or after enactment, even if the conviction happened earlier.
- Limited application to certain reentry violations and deportability grounds post-enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broadens Aggravated Felony Definition: Previously, aggravated felonies focused on crimes like murder, drug trafficking, or firearms offenses; this adds serious drunk driving cases, including misdemeanors, which were not automatically included before.
- Expands Inadmissibility: Introduces a specific ground for barring entry based on these offenses, separate from general criminal grounds.
- Retroactive Application: Convictions predating the law can trigger immigration consequences if actions occur after enactment.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will handle more deportation and inadmissibility cases, potentially increasing workload and enforcement priorities for public safety crimes.
- Citizens and Residents: U.S. citizens are unaffected (law targets non-citizens/"aliens"); may indirectly enhance road safety by deterring drunk driving among immigrants.
- Non-Citizens: Lawful permanent residents, visa holders, and undocumented immigrants with qualifying convictions face higher deportation risk and entry bans.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but could strain ties with countries whose nationals are frequently affected by U.S. deportations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Non-Citizens: Immigrants, green card holders, refugees, and temporary visa holders convicted of serious drunk driving offenses.
- Immigration Agencies: DHS, ICE, USCIS, and courts handling removal proceedings.
- Victims and Public Safety Advocates: Families of drunk driving victims, who may support stronger immigration consequences.
- State and Local Law Enforcement: Their DUI convictions will have federal immigration ripple effects.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Aligns with Congress's broad authority over immigration; clarifies misdemeanor DUIs as deportable if they meet harm criteria, reducing state law classification disputes.
- Constitutional: No apparent challenges, as it targets non-citizens and fits established deportation precedents; avoids retroactive punishment by applying only to post-enactment immigration actions.
- Political: Reinforces tough-on-crime immigration stance, potentially fueling debates on prioritizing violent misdemeanors versus other enforcement needs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2], Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-15: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-04-15: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-15: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving — issued 2026-04-15 — PDF (4 pages)