WASHINGTON, D.C.—On the 7th anniversary of Sarah Root’s death, U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) are renewing their push to honor Sarah by introducing legislation to close a loophole that allowed her killer to walk free.
On January 31, 2016, the night of her graduation, Sarah Root, a 21-year-old from Council Bluffs, Iowa was struck and killed by an illegal immigrant who was driving drunk – three times over the legal limit. Due to a gap in federal law, Sarah’s killer was released by federal law enforcement and never faced justice.
“Seven years ago today, 21-year-old Sarah Root was killed by an illegal immigrant who was driving drunk – the tragic result of Democrats’ open-border policies. Instead of being prosecuted for his crimes, he was released from custody and never seen again,” said Feenstra. “No family should have to endure the pain of losing a child like the Root family did. That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce Sarah’s Law with Senator Joni Ernst to hold illegal immigrants accountable for their actions and swiftly detain and punish those who break our laws.”
“Because of a small loophole in our law, for seven years now, Sarah’s killer has walked free, and the Root family has been robbed of justice,” said Ernst. “It is unacceptable that someone who is here illegally and commits such a heinous crime is not considered an enforcement priority nor is detained by the proper authorities. This straightforward bill would ensure that illegal immigrants responsible for these crimes cannot slip into the shadows and instead will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Simply put, it’s quite possibly the most commonsense reform we can make.”
“I appreciate Senator Ernst, Representative Feenstra, and all those who continue to introduce this commonsense law to honor my daughter each year on the anniversary of her death,” said Michelle Root, Sarah’s mother. “There should be no partisan opposition to this legislation and it amazes me to hear anyone is against this effort; I truly do not understand why it hasn’t passed. We must prioritize the safety of American citizens over illegal aliens.”
“We are already facing an illegal immigration crisis at our southern border, but to think this administration is refusing to detain aliens charged with serious crimes is unconscionable,” said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. “We must fix these loopholes—for Sarah’s family and others—who have been hurt by our broken system. We can’t afford to have any more criminals running freely in our country.”
“Keeping an illegal immigrant in custody if they’ve committed murder or other violence should be a no-brainer. As the border crisis worsens, it is all the more important that we tighten our immigration laws and protect the safety of our communities. I’m proud to help introduce this legislation in honor of Sarah Root and work to ensure that no other family endures this tragedy,” said Rep. Ashley Hinson.
“The truth is that if the federal government had better immigration laws, Sarah would still be alive, and a mother would still have her daughter to hold and love,” said Rep. Don Bacon. “Sarah’s Law will protect the lives of U.S. citizens and will help close a loophole that allows some violent criminals to escape justice. As lawmakers, we cannot change the past but with Sarah’s Law we can help prevent senseless tragedies in the future.”
“The safety of all Americans is critical to upholding our most sacred rights – the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If a person is on American soil illegally and commits a crime, they must be detained and not released back into our streets,” said Rep. Bill Johnson. “The rule of law must be respected by every individual within our borders, and American citizens should not be subject to harm by those who choose not to. President Biden’s decision to not secure our border is creating mayhem within communities across the nation. The swift passage of Sarah’s Law is a must to bring justice to those who are victims and survivors of crime at the hands of dangerous, unlawful criminals who make their way into our communities.”
“Sarah Root was just 21 years old when she was killed by a drunk driver the night before her college graduation. Sarah and her family never received justice because the man responsible for her death, a man in this country illegally, vanished after being released on bail. Not only should Sarah’s killer never have been in this country, let alone in her path that night, but his lack of documentation made him a ghost able to slip through the cracks. The system failed Sarah and her family, but this bill would ensure that ICE is empowered to detain any illegal immigrant who is charged with a crime resulting in the serious bodily injury or death of another person so that what happened to Sarah’s family doesn’t happen again. I’m proud to cosponsor this bill that would keep criminals behind bars so they may face the justice they deserve,” said Rep. Andrew Garbarino.
Sarah’s Law amends the mandatory detention provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring another person. It also adds a requirement that upon encountering an illegal immigrant subject to mandatory detention, ICE makes reasonable efforts to identify victims and inform their families of certain information.
Read full text of the bill here.
(contributed press release)
