Drunk driving in US could get illegal immigrants deported, if new bill is passed
Republican Moore said the House vote signals tougher consequences for undocumented DUI offenders who endanger American lives."Today's vote in the House sends a clear message: if you are a guest in this country, and you break our laws and put American lives at risk by driving under the influence, there will be consequences," Moore said in a statement issued on Thursday."I introduced the Jeremy and Angel Seay and Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act because too many families in Alabama and across the nation have experienced tragedy due to illegals driving under the influence when they should never have been here in the first place," he added.DEMOCRATS OPPOSED THE BILL, CALL IT FEARMONGERINGadvertisementDemocrats who opposed the bill argued it was an attempt at fearmongering.A US Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon said there was a lack of evidence linking immigration to drunk-driving."I participated in the judiciary hearings that led to this bill being sent to the floor, and I carefully reviewed the majority report. There's absolutely no evidence in that hearing or report showing a causal connection between immigration status and drunk driving," Scanlon said when the House Rules Committee debated the bill earlier this week, according to Fox News."And most notably, for all this talk, this legislation takes no real meaningful action to repair our broken immigration system," she added.The bill, named the Jeremy and Angel Seay and Sergeant Brandon Mendoza Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act, is so important.The bill is named after Jeremy and Angel Seay, a couple from Moore's own community who were killed by an illegal immigrant who was found to have been drunk driving, Fox News reported, citing Moore.It is also named in honour of Brandon Mendoza, a slain Arizona police officer who was killed by an illegal immigrant driving under the influence.The bill must now pass the Senate before being sent to President Donald Trump for final approval.- EndsMust Watch
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Last Updated: In an increasingly multipolar world, Modi showcased India's position as a truly sovereign power, one that will not break with threats of economic coercion Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned the tables on American economic coercion. He transformed pressure into power. When Donald Trump unleashed punitive 50% tariffs designed to force India into abandoning its strategic partnerships, Modi struck back. He delivered a defiant Red Fort address that rejected Trump's bullying. Hosting Wang Yi on August 18 was just the cherry on the cake, showcasing India's diplomatic alternatives in the face of American bullying. The response sends an unequivocal message: India will not compromise its sovereignty under any external pressure, and will not sacrifice its strategic autonomy for American approval. In an increasingly multipolar world, Modi showcased India's position as a truly sovereign power, one that will not break with threats of economic coercion. The Anatomy of Economic Coercion Trump's decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian goods, among the highest levied on any nation, was never merely about trade deficits or Russian oil purchases. The tariff structure, combining a 25% baseline duty with an additional 25% penalty, deliberately targeted $87 billion worth of Indian exports to the United States. This move was calculated economic warfare designed to extract maximum political concessions from New Delhi. The coercive nature of these tariffs becomes evident when examining their selective application. While China remains the largest purchaser of Russian oil globally, Trump has extended deadlines for Chinese tariffs by 90 days, hoping for a favourable deal with Xi Jinping. India, conversely, faced immediate punishment despite importing significantly less Russian energy than China. This disparity reveals the true strategic intent: to pressure a democratic ally into abandoning its sovereign decision-making whilst appeasing a strategic rival. Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton characterised this approach as producing the 'worst outcome" for America, noting the irony that tariffs intended to hurt Russia could instead push India closer to both Russia and China. The selective targeting of India while sparing China exposes the fundamental strategic miscalculation underlying Trump's coercive diplomacy. A Defiant Declaration of Sovereignty On August 15, Modi delivered one of his longest-ever Independence Day speeches, running for 103 minutes. He systematically dismantled the premises of any external coercion whilst reinforcing India's commitment to strategic autonomy. His declaration that India 'will not tolerate nuclear blackmail" and his emphasis on Atmanirbhar Bharat served as direct responses to American pressure tactics and Pakistan's unhinged declarations from US soil. He explicitly stated that 'Operation Sindoor would not have succeeded if India were not atmanirbhar (self-reliant)," directly linking India's military capabilities to its economic independence. This connection between self-reliance and security reframed the tariff debate from economic vulnerability to national strength, moving the narrative back in India's favour. Modi's assertion that India would 'never compromise on the interests of its farmers, livestock rearers and fisherfolk" delivered more than agricultural protectionism. Modi directly rejected US demands for market access to genetically modified crops and dairy products, key American negotiating objectives that had dominated trade discussions. The Prime Minister elevated the stakes by framing the trade negotiations as a sovereignty issue rather than a trade dispute. His reference to the Indus Waters Treaty, declaring that 'blood and water cannot flow together," showed India's refusal to compartmentalise policy under external pressure. Modi linked water rights with counter-terrorism policy, signalling that India would reject American definitions of acceptable behaviour in its regional relationships. Diplomatic Realignment with China Wang Yi's visit marked the first high-level Chinese diplomatic engagement with India in three years, following the 2020 Galwan Valley tensions. The decision to resume such engagement precisely when US-India relations faced their greatest strain since Trump's return to office sent unmistakable signals about India's strategic alternatives. Chinese media outlets immediately recognised the significance, with the Global Times referring to a potential 'ballet dance between dragon and elephant" as both nations faced American tariff pressure. The substance of the Wang Yi meetings further reinforced India's strategic messaging. During discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Wang criticised 'unilateral bullying practices" in apparent reference to American tariff policies, whilst emphasising that 'free trade and the international order face severe challenges". This alignment of messaging between Beijing and New Delhi demonstrated the unintended consequences of Trump's coercive approach. Most significantly, the meetings established groundwork for Modi's planned visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in late August. This diplomatic engagement, occurring whilst under American economic pressure, perfectly illustrated Modi's multi-alignment strategy and refusal to accept binary geopolitical choices. Atmanirbhar Bharat In Full Effect The emphasis on Atmanirbhar Bharat during Modi's Red Fort address elevated the self-reliance initiative from economic policy to strategic doctrine. By explicitly linking indigenous capabilities to national security, the Prime Minister reframed economic independence as fundamental to strategic autonomy. The Atmanirbhar Bharat framework provides India with conceptual tools to resist external pressure whilst maintaining growth momentum. The initiative's focus on domestic manufacturing, technological sovereignty, and supply chain resilience directly addresses vulnerabilities that economic coercion seeks to exploit. And it is not just in the defence sector that Atmanirbhar is supposed to work. Modi's call for indigenous semiconductor manufacturing, jet engine development, and expanded nuclear energy capabilities represents more. These priorities constitute strategic responses to technological dependencies that could be weaponised by external actors. By pursuing technological sovereignty across critical sectors, India reduces exposure to supply chain disruptions and economic blackmail, as was imposed by Trump. The Broader Implications For Global Order India's successful resistance to American economic coercion carries implications far beyond bilateral relationships, contributing to broader shifts towards a multipolar international order. By demonstrating that even significant economic pressure cannot force major powers into policy subordination, India's response weakens coercive diplomacy as a tool of international statecraft. The timing of India's resistance coincides with similar challenges to American hegemony from other quarters. China's continued growth despite trade wars, Russia's resilience under sanctions, and European resistance to extraterritorial sanctions all contribute to perceptions of declining American coercive capacity. India's successful resistance adds democratic legitimacy to this broader pattern of pushback against hegemonic pressure. India's approach also strengthens multilateral alternatives to American-dominated institutions. The deepening of BRICS cooperation, enhanced SCO engagement, and continued commitment to G20 leadership demonstrate that India sees institutional diversification as essential for maintaining strategic autonomy. These platforms provide India with alternative venues for pursuing national interests without American oversight. The broader message resonates across the Global South, where many nations face similar pressures to align with great power preferences. India's demonstration that democratic governance and strategic autonomy can coexist provides encouragement for other middle powers seeking to maintain policy independence, while also further cementing India's position as a leader of the Global South. The beauty of Modi's approach lies in its demonstration that sovereignty and partnership can coexist. By refusing to accept binary choices between American alignment and Chinese engagement, India has shown that strategic autonomy remains viable in an era of great power competition. top videos View all The economic costs of American tariffs, whilst significant, pale in comparison to the strategic benefits of demonstrated autonomy. India's successful resistance enhances its credibility with all partners, showing that it cannot be pressured into abandoning its principles or interests. This reputation for reliability under pressure increases India's value as a partner across all relationships, from American security cooperation to Chinese economic engagement. Most importantly, Modi's response reinforces India's trajectory to the higher echelons of world power structures by demonstrating the strategic autonomy that defines truly sovereign states. By refusing to be bullied whilst maintaining productive relationships across the international system, India has shown that it possesses the strategic sophistication required for global leadership. About the Author Sohil Sinha Sohil Sinha is a Sub Editor at News18. He writes on foreign affairs, geopolitics along with domestic policy and infrastructure projects. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 19, 2025, 18:11 IST News opinion Opinion | Trump's Tariffs, Modi's Red Fort Defiance, Yi's Delhi Visit: As Sovereign As They Come Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
