Cornyn's 'Zero Mercy' Bill Would Make Deadly DUI By Noncitizens Deportable And Bar Re-Entry

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and a bipartisan group of senators have introduced the Stop Illegal Aliens Drunk Driving Act, a proposal to amend federal immigration law so that DUI and DWI convictions that cause death or serious bodily injury are treated as "aggravated felonies." If enacted, the change would make affected noncitizens deportable, bar them from returning to the United States, and render them ineligible for most forms of immigration relief.

What the Bill Would Do

The bill would explicitly add driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while impaired (DWI) offenses that result in death or significant bodily harm to the list of aggravated felonies under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Notably, the proposed law would apply the aggravated-felony designation regardless of whether the underlying state conviction was classified as a misdemeanor or a felony.

Lawmakers want to lodge penalties against illegal immigrants convicted of deadly drunk driving incidents at the federal level, triggering deportation and preventing return to the U.S.

"Zero mercy should be shown to illegal aliens who not only defy our laws by unlawfully entering the country, but also take it a step further to drive drunk, threatening American lives," Cornyn said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Evidence Cited By Supporters

Supporters cite data and case examples from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. Cornyn noted that the DHS Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement unit reported 15 deaths tied to DUI- or DWI-related incidents involving noncitizens over the past decade. Prosecutors in the Southern District of Texas highlighted a case in which an individual with multiple prior DWI convictions re-entered the U.S. after previous removals.

Support, Opposition, And Legal Questions

The bill is sponsored by a group of Republican senators and counts Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) as its only Democratic cosponsor. Gallego said, "Drunk driving that results in severe injury or death is a serious and dangerous crime. Individuals who put lives at risk and endanger our communities should be held accountable."

The DHS’ Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement last year noted that 15 people had been killed in relation to DUI and DWI incidents involving illegal immigrants over the last decade.

Supporters argue the measure closes enforcement gaps and keeps repeat, dangerous offenders from returning to U.S. communities. Critics and some legal analysts may raise concerns about proportionality, due process, and how federal immigration penalties interact with state-level criminal classifications.

Sponsors

• Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)
• Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)
• Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.)
• Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)
• Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.)
• Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.)
• Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.)
• Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.)
• Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.)
• Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.)
• Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) — Democratic Cosponsor

The proposal highlights a policy debate over how immigration law should respond to serious criminal conduct committed by noncitizens, balancing public safety concerns with legal safeguards and the differences between state criminal classifications and federal immigration consequences.