Congressman Young Attending White House Immigration Enforcement Roundtable

Press Release

Today, Iowa Congressman David Young will be attending a White House roundtable on immigration enforcement with Iowa Third Congressional District constituent Michelle Wilson-Root. Michelle is the mother of Sarah Root, an Iowan and Third Congressional District constituent who was tragically killed by an illegal immigrant in January 2016.

On July 5, 2016, Congressman David Young and then-Congressman Brad Ashford (D-NE) introduced Sarah's Law, bipartisan legislation amending existing mandatory detention provisions in place under the Immigration and Nationality Act after the disappearance of Eswin Mejia, the illegal immigrant charged with Sarah's death. Mejia vanished after posting bail last February and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) failed to act on requests from local law enforcement to detain him. Congressman Young and Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon reintroduced the legislation in the current Congress.

A companion version of the bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Iowa Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley and Nebraska Senators Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse.

Sarah's Law 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 U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act which includes language from Sarah's law. Including parts of Sarah's Law in this bill is a huge step forward in protecting citizens from criminals who are here illegally.

"I am honored to join Sarah's mother, Michelle and others who are passionate about enforcing our laws and making sure these types of tragedies never happen again," said Congressman David Young. "I will continue to do what I can as a lawmaker to honor Sarah's memory and work every day to keep the people of Iowa safe."

White House Immigration Enforcement Roundtable Information
The White House
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
3:00 PM

In April 2016, Congressman Young criticized the federal government's lack of enforcement and understanding of our nation's immigration laws while introducing Scott Root, Sarah's father, at a U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing entitled, "Criminal Aliens Released by the Department of Homeland Security."
In March 2016, Congressman David Young sought answers from ICE after their mishandling of the case of Sarah Root.
In July 2016, Congressman Young and Congressman Brad Ashford introduced "Sarah's Law."
In January 2017, Congressman Young and Congressman Bacon reintroduced "Sarah's Law."
In June on 2017, Congress included parts of "Sarah's Law" language to the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act
On June 28, 2017, Congressman Young attended a White House Immigration Enforcement Roundtable

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