WASHINGTON, D.C. (KELO.com) — Ahead of the Fifth Anniversary of Sarah Root’s Death, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is reintroducing her bill ” Sarah’s Law”.
The legislation, which is named after Sarah Root—an Iowan killed by an illegal immigrant who was released by federal law enforcement due to a loophole in the law and never faced justice—requires federal law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring another person.
“Five years ago, a loophole allowed an illegal immigrant who murdered a young Iowan to escape the country and justice. We need families in Iowa, and across the country, to know that the federal government will do everything possible to hold murderers accountable. Sarah’s Law brings us one step closer to restoring justice in our broken immigration system by allowing federal law enforcement to detain and prosecute violent criminals,” said Senator Ernst.
“Sarah’s family is very grateful to have such a compassionate senator like Senator Ernst. She has continued to push for Sarah’s Law every year, around Sarah’s death date; she never gives up on this. This is such a common-sense law and I truly can’t understand why it hasn’t passed. This law is not just about Sarah but also about the tens of thousands out there just like her. We truly appreciate Senator Ernst’s continued fight for the rule of law and honoring our beautiful daughter Sarah,” said Michelle Root, Sarah Root’s mother.
In August, Senate Democrats blocked Senator Ernst’s attempt to pass the legislation.
About Sarah’s Law:
Sarah’s Law would amend the mandatory detention provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act to require the federal government to take custody of anyone who entered the country illegally, violated the terms of their immigration status or had their visa revoked and is thereafter charged with a crime resulting in the death or serious bodily injury of another person.
The legislation also requires ICE to make reasonable efforts to identify and provide relevant information to the crime victims or their families. Under this law, Sarah’s killer would have been detained by law enforcement and not allowed to flee from justice. The Root family would have been kept up-to-date on his status and federal immigration authorities’ efforts to remove him from the United States.
Passage of Sarah’s Law would codify the order into law, to prevent future administrations from deprioritizing the detention of illegal immigrants who commit crimes involving death or serious bodily injury and restricting information to victims of such crimes.
(The office of Joni Ernst Ernst contributed this report.)
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