Rep. Young Kim (R., Calif.) wants to increase penalties for illegal immigrants who drive drunk.
Kim’s latest bill, obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter, is called the Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act, and it carries bicameral support. The legislation would ensure that illegal immigrants who kill or seriously injure Americans by drunk driving are deported and permanently barred from reentry into the United States.
Kim’s bill, which was introduced alongside her by Reps. John Joyce (R., Pa.), Tim Burchett (R., Tenn.), and Dan Meuser (R., Pa.) would amend current law, which does not view drunk driving itself as a standalone group for deportation.
“This allows illegal aliens who commit these life-altering crimes to avoid removal from the United States and even re-offend upon release,” Kim explained. “The Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act closes this dangerous loophole by classifying DUI offenses resulting in death or serious bodily injury as aggravated felonies under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and making offenders permanently ineligible for immigration status, including asylum and Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status.”
Kim herself noted that “drunk driving destroys lives and tears families apart. When it involves illegal aliens who shouldn’t have been here in the first place, it’s entirely preventable. This bill is simple and enforces what should already be common sense. If you enter our country illegally, get behind the wheel drunk, and hurt innocent Americans, you will be deported and never allowed back.”Her bill was endorsed from the get-go by immigration hardline groups, including the Border Trade Alliance, FAIR, and NumbersUSA.
Kim’s co-sponsors, like Burchett, said that they are “proud” to introduce the legislation alongside her. “Biden’s border crisis allowed millions of illegal immigrants to flood our southern border,” Burchett said. “I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation to increase penalties for any illegal immigrant convicted of a DUI.”
Joyce added that “illegal aliens who drive under the influence are a danger to our communities and must be held accountable.”
“This legislation strengthens immigration law and ensures that illegal aliens committing these crimes can never enter our country and put Americans in danger again,” Joyce added. “Too many lives have been lost to impaired drivers. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing common-sense legislation to help fight this issue.”
Meuser added that “illegal immigrants who disrespect our laws and endanger American lives by driving while intoxicated deserve no mercy from our justice system.”
Kim’s legislation shines a spotlight on illegal immigrant criminals at a time when her home state governor, Gavin Newsom (D., Calif.) has been under pressure by many in the Trump administration, including Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, to curtail driving abuses by illegal immigrants.
Duffy previously told the Reporter that Kim’s California as well as New York “account for half of the non-domiciled [commercial driver’s licenses] that were issued in the country,” he said. “I can’t get in their heads as to why they would allow individuals to get these licenses, especially when they’re not well-qualified. But it’s what’s happening.”
