A proposed U.S. bill, the Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act (H.R. 875), has sent ripples of concern through immigrant communities, particularly among Indian Green Card and visa holders, as it seeks to make driving under the influence (DUI) a deportable offense for non-citizens, regardless of when the offense occurred. Passed by the House of Representatives in June 2025 with strong Republican support and backed by the White House, the bill is now under review by the Senate Judiciary Committee, raising alarms about its potential to disrupt the lives of lawful permanent residents, international students, and H-1B workers.
Currently, low-level DUI offenses do not automatically trigger deportation or inadmissibility, with immigration judges often considering factors like rehabilitation, time elapsed, and community ties. However, H.R. 875 would mandate immediate deportation or entry denial for any non-citizen convicted of or admitting to a DUI, even for minor or decades-old incidents, without opportunities for appeal or discretionary relief. Immigration attorney Joseph Tsang warned on LinkedIn, “A DUI could get Green Card holders deported, even from ten years ago! If it becomes law, anyone who is not a U.S. citizen could become inadmissible and deportable for having a DUI on record.”
The bill’s broad scope, which includes non-citizens who merely admit to drinking and driving without a conviction, has drawn sharp criticism for bypassing due process. Landerholm Immigration highlighted its severity, stating, “One of the most alarming parts of this bill is that you don’t even need a conviction to be targeted. This is an extremely broad and harsh standard.” Critics, including Tsang, argue that the legislation’s lack of proportionality—ignoring rehabilitation or context—could unfairly penalize long-term residents and integrated community members.
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The White House Office of Management and Budget has endorsed H.R. 875, citing over 43,000 ICE detentions for DUI charges between 2018 and 2023, claiming it corrects a legislative gap to ensure public safety by deporting non-citizens who “recklessly jeopardize American lives.” Supporters, including Representative Bob Onder, assert, “Being in the United States is a privilege, not a right,” emphasizing immediate deportation for DUI offenders.
The bill’s passage in the House, with a 246-160 vote, saw 37 Democrats join Republicans, though 160 Democrats opposed it, with some, like Representative Mary Gay Scanlon, arguing it fails to address broader immigration system flaws. As the Senate deliberates, immigration attorneys are urging Green Card holders eligible for citizenship to apply immediately and advising those with DUI records to seek legal counsel to prepare defenses, warning that travel abroad could result in entry denial if the bill becomes law.
With India-born individuals forming the largest group of annual Green Card recipients and a significant portion of U.S. international students, the Indian diaspora faces heightened uncertainty. The proposed law, aligned with President Trump’s broader immigration enforcement agenda, could reshape U.S. immigration policy, prompting calls for vigilance and proactive measures among affected communities.
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