DUI Related Detentions Increasing

Contributed by Koby Polaski, Senior Attorney-Edwards Office

Over the past couple of weeks, there has been a nationwide increase in the apprehension and detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement of people with DUI and DWAI convictions. Most of the apprehensions have been occurring in rural areas. However, the volume of apprehensions indicates that this is likely a directive from Immigration and Customs Enforcement national headquarters, so we might see this disturbing trend continue to spread.

So far, ICE has not focused its apprehension efforts on those with recent DUI convictions; even people with very old convictions have been apprehended. At this point, we can only guess that this effort is a result of ICE’s new Priority Enforcement Program. This program was implemented in November, when President Obama made his Executive Action announcement. Under the Priority Enforcement Program, DUIs are classified as “significant misdemeanors” and fall into Priority 2 – second on the priorities enforcement list behind those who pose a threat to national security.

Please call to schedule a consultation with one of our expert immigration attorneys at: (303) 297-9171 to obtain more information on the DUI apprehensions and to ask specific questions.