Speech #1010236752

Mr. President. today I am introducing legislation that would allow for the deportation of nonU.S. residents convicted of felony drunk driving. Specifically. my bill would allow for deportation of a nonU.S. resident convicted of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs. arising in connection with a fatal crash or a crash in which serious bodily injury nas been inflicted upon an innocent party. Under current law. an alien residing in this country can be deported if he or she commits a crime involving "moral turpitude." Court decisions over the years have established that crimes such a murder. rape. assault. robbery. and drug prossession are crimes that demonstrate moral turpitude and are grounds for deportation. However. a nonU.S. resident who gets behind the wheel of a motor vehicle after abusing alcohol or drugs and kills or injures an innocent victim. cannot be deported. Under current law. getting drunk and then killing someone with your car is not considered a sufficient enough demonstration of moral turpitude to warrant deportation. Mr. President. drunk driving is not a simple traffic offense and should not be treated that way. Since the early 1980s. when I introduced the first in a series of laws forcing a crackdown on drunk drivers. there has been a wholesale change in the way society views drunk driving. I believe it is also time for our deportation laws to reflect this fundamental change. An assault or murder committed by a drunk driver should be considered as grounds for deportation. I realize that this legislation may seem draconian to some. Our country has always opened its arms to all people and it is a very serious step to deport someone from our shores. That is why my bill follows current deportation law and gives a presiding judge in a felony case involving an alien the power to recommend against deportation. My bill also specifically states that an alien cannot be deported if this action would subject the alien to persecution on account of race. religion. or political opinion. I believe these safeguards will adequately protect aliens from the misuse of this proposed law. In 1980. over half of all traffic fatalities in this country were alcoholrelated.