Are Half Of Drunk Driving Offenses On I-35 Committed By Those Who Entered The US Illegally?

Our weekly check-in with the Texas Truth-O-Meter.

By Alexandra HartOctober 9, 2019 1:06 pm,

A U.S. House member from Texas says 50% of DUI violations on I-35 involve immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally, and that 90% of those immigrants lack identification documents.

Is that a fact? Madlin Mekelburg of the PolitiFact Texas fact-checking team based at the Austin American-Statesman has the answer.

Republican Rep. Roger Williams made the claim during an event hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation.  

“He said he’s frustrated that people are characterizing the situation at the border as a made-up crisis,” Mekelburg says. 

Williams specifically addressed DUI, or Driving Under the Influence, offenses. In Texas, a DUI is an offense for which an underage driver can be charged. DWI – Driving While Intoxicated – is a charge leveled against adults. Williams also did not specify a timeframe for his claim.

Hear how Williams’ claim scored in the player above.

 

Written by Shelly Brisbin.