Getting pulled over by the police can be traumatizing, especially if it leads to an arrest due to driving under the influence. This could affect your finances and your career. However, while the consequences of driving under the influence can be severe, they may be worse for immigrants.
If you are an immigrant and you’re charged with DWI, you may be at risk of losing your job and your future in the US. This means you risk being deported and separated from your loved ones.
What if you’re in the US legally?
A single DWI on its own may not affect your immigration status if you’re in the US legally. This is because DWI is not on the list of deportable crimes in the Immigration and Nationality Act. However, if your DWI is combined with other criminal charges, you may easily find yourself in a situation affecting your immigration status.
Here are other complicating factors in a DWI charge that can affect your immigration status.
DWI with a child in the car
There are adverse consequences for driving under the influence with a child in the car. This can lead to a child endangerment conviction. In addition, knowingly putting a child in danger and an additional charge of DWI can affect your immigration status and potentially lead to deportation.
Drug offenses
While penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or a legal drug may be the same, a DWI involving a drug on the federal list of controlled substances is a serious offense that may lead to your deportation.
Driving on a suspended license
A single DWI charge may not affect your immigration status, but the element of driving on a suspended license may lead to your deportation.
A DWI can affect your immigration status
Your immigration status may be affected if you’re facing a DWI charge, but this doesn’t mean you’ll be deported. Therefore, if you’re an immigrant charged with a DWI, ensure you protect your future by obtaining legal guidance.