Reps. Bacon and Young Introduce Sarah's Law for Late Bellevue University Student Sarah Root

Statement

Today, Representatives Don Bacon (NE-02) and David Young (IA-03) introduced Sarah's Law, legislation to honor Sarah Root, an Iowan and Bellevue University 4.0 GPA student. Sarah, 21, was tragically killed by an illegal immigrant in January of last year in Nebraska's Second Congressional District, one day after graduating college.

"The sad fact is that if the federal government had better immigration laws, Sarah would still be alive," said Congressman Bacon. "A mother would still have her daughter to hold and love, whose life was full of bright and endless possibilities. As lawmakers, we can help in a small way to set the record right with Sarah's law and prevent senseless tragedies in the future. This is the right thing to do."

A companion version of the bill led by Iowa Senator Joni Ernst was also today introduced in the U.S. Senate. Introduction of this legislation comes after last year's disappearance of Eswin Mejia, the illegal immigrant charged with Sarah's death that has not been seen since posting bail last February. Mejia vanished after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) failed to act on requests from local law enforcement to detain him.

Congressman Bacon added, "Sarah's Law will protect the lives of U.S. citizens and will help close a loophole that allows some violent criminals from escaping justice."

Sarah's Law seeks to prevent future cases like this, by amending existing mandatory detention provisions in place under the Immigration and Nationality Act. It requires ICE to take custody of any individual who has entered or remains in the United States illegally and is also 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 update crime victims or their families with relevant information about the criminal or the federal agency's efforts.

"Sarah's death is a tragedy which has left the Root family and our community in mourning," Congressman Young said. "A criminal is now at large, following crucial failures in enforcing our laws. The federal government has failed Sarah, and we cannot allow this to ever happen again. While we cannot bring Sarah back, we can honor her memory with Sarah's Law."

"It is unconscionable that nearly one year after Sarah's death, Edwin Mejia remains at-large, and the fact remains that today U.S. immigration law does not require federal immigration authorities to detain those here illegally who harm American citizens," said Senator Ernst in a statement. "Although nothing can bring Sarah back to her family or heal the wounds of such unimaginable loss, we have an obligation to the American people to ensure that no citizen falls victim to this injustice again. Sarah's Law is about honoring Sarah, and her legacy; I have already had conversations with the incoming administration, and am hopeful that they will work with Congress to pursue this legislation and finally get some long-overdue justice for the Root family."

"We would just like to thank our Senators and Congressmen for working so hard on this law," said Michelle Root, Sarah's mother. "We thank you all for your support and for not giving up. Had this law been in place before Sarah's death, we wouldn't be trying to find her killer. This law may have Sarah's name on it but it's for all innocent victims that have lost their lives at the hands of illegal immigrants."

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