On February 1, 2024, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill—H. R. 6976—which aims to prevent noncitizens convicted of DUI from immigrating to the United States. The bill would also make it easier to deport such individuals.
The bill targets conflicts between state and federal law that sometimes allow past DUI convictions to not be considered in an immigration case. The bill also makes all misdemeanor DUI offenses, grounds both for deportation and inadmissibility for adjustment of status.
There are no immediate plans for the Senate to take the bill up. The bill must pass in the U.S. Senate and be signed into law by the President before it becomes effective.
However, note that presently, DUI convictions already have negative immigration consequences, and they can be considered for purposes of discretion when adjudicators are reviewing immigration applications.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Gonzalez Olivieri LLC.