A DUI immigration bill moving through Congress would allow deportation or denial of reentry for green card holders after a single DUI offense. The Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act (HR 6976) was introduced in January and passed the House in June; it is now under review in the Senate.
Under current U.S. immigration law, a simple DUI is not automatically grounds for deportation or inadmissibility. Only repeated or aggravated cases can be treated as a crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT). The new bill eliminates those conditions, making one DUI conviction—or even an admission of DUI conduct—enough to deny entry or initiate removal. It further states that any DUI record, whether a misdemeanor or felony under federal, state, or local law, can be used for deportation. This means lawful permanent residents returning from overseas travel could be denied reentry if a past DUI is identified.
Attorney Wanseok Oh noted that in naturalization reviews, simple DUI cases have not counted as CIMT, so one or two incidents generally did not prevent approval. “If this bill passes, even relatively minor offenses like simple DUIs could become significant barriers,” he said. He also warned that DUI records remain traceable through fingerprints even after expungement, suggesting the law could be applied retroactively.
Attorney Dave Noh added that while the measure focuses on DUIs, it reflects a wider trend of stricter immigration enforcement. “Not only DUIs but also minor offenses are likely to face far more severe consequences,” he said. Immigration lawyers caution that although the bill is still under Senate review, it aligns with Donald Trump’s enforcement stance. They advise green card holders and international students with DUI records to be careful when traveling abroad or applying for citizenship.
BY HANKIL KANG [kang.hankil@koreadaily.com]
