Undocumented Drunks! Stay as Long as You Like
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Undocumented Drunks! Stay as Long as You Like

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will a DUI get me deportedSometimes it seems like the more research we—as a society—do, the more confused we get about how to deal with addiction. The Los Angeles Times recently reported on a ruling by a federal appeals court that did away with part of an immigration law that made it nearly impossible for non-citizens deemed “habitual drunkards” to fight deportation. In other words, those living in this country illegally and wondering, “Will a DUI get me deported?” can breathe a sigh of relief. With this new ruling, no matter how many times a non-citizen is arrested in the US and charged with a DUI or public intoxication, they will be treated as if they are an American and not face deportation. Is this supposed to be a good thing?

Poor Moral Character Is Not the Issue

I am not going to claim to understand the immigration laws in this country. As far as I’m concerned, there don’t really seem to be any. It appears that as long as someone can get into the country, they can pretty much live, work, go to school, get health insurance and have a family without much trouble from the government. In fact, once a child is born on American soil, that child is an American, which further solidifies the non-citizen parent as a resident. However, we have put our foot down about some issues, like when a non-citizen demonstrates “poor moral character,” they put themselves in jeopardy of being deported. These kinds of things include participating in genocide, torture, illegal gambling or certain serious felonies. And, up until now, this also included those deemed “habitual drunkards.”

Though I strongly disagree with this ruling, I understand the argument that someone with alcoholism should not be classified as having “poor moral character.” If alcoholics have a disease and are powerless to control their drinking, then their character has nothing to do with it. And this totally makes sense. What doesn’t make sense is that we would ever deport people based poor moral character and not solely on the fact that they committed a crime, put the lives of innocent people in danger and are hazards to their community.

Shouldn’t Guests Mind Their Manners?

Of course, I’m not suggesting undocumented immigrants should be treated with less respect because they aren’t citizens—but common courtesy goes both ways. People who choose to enter and reside in the US illegally have to accept a certain amount of responsibility for that position. No one should drive while intoxicated or cause a drunken ruckus, but as a guest in a country (that doesn’t even know you’re here) it’s belligerent and downright entitled not to abide their laws. Or at least lay low when breaking them. While addicts may lack the common will power non-addicts naturally have, it doesn’t make them above the law. Powerless is a “break” that alcoholics need to give themselves and that their loved ones should give them when trying to understand their behavior, it’s not a pass to ignore personal responsibility. In fact, addicts without consequences are very often addicts who die.

We Are Responsible

So I am going to come right out and say it, I think this ruling is total bullshit. I hate the message that it sends. It is basically saying that in order to be politically correct, we need to accept that alcoholics have no control over their behavior and whether or not they get sober. It’s a cop out and an insult to the hundreds of thousands of alcoholics who are recovering and work every day to stay sober. It’s true, not everyone is able to get sober when they should (or even when they think they want to) but quitting drinking and using drugs is absolutely possible. That doesn’t mean we should be rolling out the red carpet for addicts from all over the world.

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About Author

Danielle Stewart is a Los Angeles-based writer and recovering comedian. She has written for Showtime, E!, and MTV, as well as print publications such as Us Weekly and Life & Style Magazine. She returned to school and is currently working her way towards a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She loves coffee, Law & Order SVU, and her emotional support dog, Benson.