This Thursday, the United States House of Representatives approved a bill with the support of 215 Republicans and 59 Democrats, aiming to facilitate the deportation of undocumented individuals convicted of driving while intoxicated. The initiative, proposed by Republican representative Barry Moore of Alabama, also seeks to prohibit their return to the country.

The legislation, known as H.R. 6976, establishes that a person convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be subject to deportation and denied entry to the United States, regardless of the classification of the offense as a misdemeanor. Representative Moore emphasized the seriousness of the problem, noting that one person dies every 45 minutes in the United States in accidents related to intoxicated drivers.

The project now moves to evaluation in the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority. However, approval at this stage is not guaranteed. The proposal aims to address conflicts between federal and state legislation, especially regarding deportation for driving while intoxicated or under the influence of substances.

Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib expressed her opposition to the measure, arguing that it could result in the deportation of immigrants who have legally resided in American communities for decades for minor offenses, creating an unequal justice system. Tlaib reaffirmed her commitment to ending what she considers hateful immigration policies, highlighting her resistance to attempts to dehumanize immigrant neighbors, in line with her goals to counteract Trump-era policies.