A bill introduced by Alabama Republican Rep. Barry Moore that would allow for the deportation of undocumented immigrants convicted of driving under the influence has passed the GOP-controlled U.S. House of Representatives.
The bill, formally titled “The Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025”, cleared the House last Thursday with a 245–160 vote. Thirty-seven Democrats crossed the aisle to support the measure, which now heads to the Senate. If approved there, it will go to President Donald Trump for final approval.
Though introduced by a lawmaker from Alabama, the bill has implications for immigrant communities across the country, including in states like Florida, which has a large Caribbean immigrant population. The proposed law would mandate the deportation of any undocumented immigrant convicted of DUI and would also render them permanently ineligible for reentry into the United States.
According to the bill, “any alien who has been convicted of… an offense for driving while under the influence… is inadmissible” — a legal term that, under U.S. immigration law, bars individuals from entering or reentering the country.
“Today, we consider a simple common-sense bill that says if you’re a guest in our country and you drive drunk, you should in fact be deported,” Moore said from the House floor. “Now, to the average American, passing this bill is a no-brainer. Even in a polarized time, Democrats should be able to join Republicans and unanimously support such reasonable legislation.”
The bill is named after three individuals—Jeremy and Angel Seay, a newlywed couple from Enterprise, Alabama, and Arizona police officer Sergeant Brandon Mendoza—all of whom were killed in accidents involving undocumented immigrants convicted of DUI. Moore previously introduced a similar bill in 2024, which also passed the House but failed in the Senate.
“160 Democrats just voted against protecting American families from illegals who drive under the influence,” Moore tweeted following Thursday’s vote, sharing clips of floor debate and statements from victims’ families.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 13,000 alcohol-related driving deaths were reported in 2021, though it remains unclear what percentage of those involved undocumented individuals. The proposed law would not apply retroactively and would only affect non-citizens convicted of DUI offenses after the law takes effect.
The bill’s future now rests in the hands of the U.S. Senate.
