White House Backs Bill Deporting Green Card, Visa Holders Over Any DUI

(UNITED STATES) The White House has thrown its support behind H.R. 875, the “Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act,” a sweeping bill that would require the removal of non-citizens—green card holders and visa holders included—over any DUI or DWI conviction, or even an admission to having driven under the influence, no matter when or where it happened. The measure, formally titled the “Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act,” passed the House on June 26, 2025, by a vote of 246–160 and is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee, with Senate debate expected soon. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget has issued an official statement backing the bill, underscoring the administration’s public safety argument and adding momentum as the Senate weighs next steps.

If enacted, H.R. 875 would mark a major break from current practice. Today, a DUI is not automatically a ground for deportation or denial of entry unless it involves aggravating factors such as injury, repeat offenses, or a felony classification. Immigration judges also retain discretion to consider rehabilitation, time passed, and family ties. The Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act would replace that case-by-case approach with a bright-line rule: any DUI or DWI—misdemeanor or felony, old or recent, U.S. or foreign—would trigger deportation or inadmissibility, and no conviction would be required if a person admits the conduct during an interview or in a plea.

Supporters argue the change is necessary to deter dangerous behavior and protect people on the road. They point to the tragic cases named in the bill’s title and say Congress must act. Critics, including immigration attorneys and civil rights groups, call the bill disproportionate, warning it would treat minor, decades-old DUIs the same as recent serious offenses, while removing meaningful discretion and due process. They also stress the bill’s retroactive reach, which could upend the lives of long-settled residents. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, legal advocates are bracing for a wave of removals if the bill becomes law, and they are advising clients with any DUI history to get legal help now.

Scope and Enforcement Mechanism

H.R. 875 applies to all non-citizens: lawful permanent residents, students, temporary workers, tourists, undocumented individuals, and people applying for entry or for status. The bill makes DUI a categorical ground of both inadmissibility and deportability under the Immigration and Nationality Act. It also extends to admissions of DUI. That means a person without a criminal conviction—someone who once told an officer, a consular official, or an immigration officer that they drove after drinking—could be found inadmissible or removable.

Procedurally, the bill aims to move cases fast. Under the framework described by sponsors and committee summaries, DHS and ICE would identify impacted individuals through:
– Past court records
– State motor vehicle data
– Admissions in the immigration process

Those flagged could be placed into expedited removal or denied admission at a port of entry with limited or no access to common forms of relief. There is no grandfathering: the rules would apply retroactively, so an old DUI from years or decades ago could lead to removal, a finding of inadmissibility, or a denial of adjustment.

Examples of conduct swept in by the bill

• A single misdemeanor DUI from college days.
• A decades-old conviction that has since been expunged under state law (expungement often does not erase federal immigration consequences).
• An acknowledgment made during a visa interview that a person once drove after drinking but was never arrested.

Under current law, many such cases might end with a warning, a waiver, or a favorable exercise of discretion by an immigration judge. Under H.R. 875, those lifelines would largely disappear, and the result would often be automatic removal or denial of entry.

Impact on Immigrant Families and Travelers

The most immediate effect would fall on green card holders and long-term visa holders with old or minor DUIs. Families could face sudden separation if a parent is detained and removed. The risk is especially acute for permanent residents traveling abroad: if the bill becomes law while a person is outside the country, a past DUI could lead to denial of re-entry at the airport or border. The same holds for nonimmigrant visa holders who travel for work or family visits.

Immigration lawyers report that many people do not realize how admissions work. Under H.R. 875, a person could trigger consequences by answering yes when asked if they have ever driven after drinking, even without a conviction. That’s especially relevant during consular processing, custody bookings, or adjustment interviews. The bill’s backers see this as a fair and clear standard. Critics say it exposes people to removal based on statements made years ago or without legal advice, raising due process concerns.

Everyday scenarios illustrating the bill’s breadth

• A software engineer on an H-1B visa with a 2010 misdemeanor DUI, no accidents, and a clean record since then—could face mandatory removal or be blocked from employer-related travel that requires consular stamping.
• A permanent resident mother who pled to a first-time DUI in 2005, completed treatment, and has U.S. citizen children—could be barred from re-entry after traveling abroad.
• An F-1 student who admits during a consular interview she once drove after a party, though never charged—could be found inadmissible based solely on that admission.

Attorneys and advocates emphasize the bill would reach people who have rebuilt their lives, completed treatment, and stayed out of trouble for years. They note no exceptions for rehabilitation, time passed, or hardship are included. Studies cited by opponents indicate immigrants commit fewer crimes overall, and they argue the bill’s blanket approach is not tied to actual public safety risk.

Supporters in Congress and at the White House describe the measure as a clear rule that sets expectations and keeps dangerous drivers off U.S. roads. They argue DUI is a choice with potentially fatal consequences, and non-citizens must be held to a strict standard.

Next Steps in the Senate and What You Can Do

As of August 23, 2025, H.R. 875 sits with the Senate Judiciary Committee, where hearings and a vote are expected soon. If the Senate passes the bill and the President signs it, the law would take effect immediately. That timing matters: green card holders and visa holders planning travel could face new rules with little notice.

Legal challenges are expected if the bill becomes law—especially over its retroactive features and limits on due process—but litigation would take time and would not necessarily pause enforcement.

Practical steps for those who may be affected

1. Speak with an immigration attorney now if you have any DUI history or have ever admitted to driving after drinking, even once.
2. Avoid travel abroad until you’ve received legal advice tailored to your case, especially if you are a permanent resident with any DUI on record.
3. Gather documents related to past incidents:
   • Court records
   • Proof of treatment or counseling
   • Letters from employers
   • Evidence of family ties
4. Be careful with statements in any immigration or consular interview. An offhand admission can have the same impact as a conviction under H.R. 875.
5. Monitor Senate activity to track the bill’s progress and effective dates if it passes.

For official updates on the bill’s movement in the Senate, readers can follow the Senate Judiciary Committee: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/. This is the primary place where hearing dates and committee actions will appear.

The debate around the Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act is testing the line between public safety goals and the fairness of lifetime penalties for past mistakes. Supporters call for a simple rule to protect people on the road; opponents warn of wide collateral damage—especially for mixed-status families and long-term residents who have lived in the United States for years.

What sets H.R. 875 apart is not only its reach but also its speed. The bill’s design aims for quick identification and removal, with severely limited avenues for appeal. That’s a deliberate choice by its backers, who say discretion has led to uneven results and put the public at risk.

For families, the practical effect is clear: people with any DUI history, including long-ago misdemeanors, face a real risk of detention and removal if this bill becomes law. The coming weeks in the Senate will decide whether that risk becomes reality. For non-citizens—especially those with any past DUI or any admission—the safest step is to prepare now: consult counsel, check travel plans, and get records in order. The window to act, if the bill passes, could be very short.