Opinion: Sarah’s Law is law of the land

By Sen. Joni Ernst

Nine years ago, our state faced the loss of one of our own. A young Iowan, Sarah Root, was killed by an illegal immigrant driving drunk.

While this day will always be a somber one because of this senseless death, when we remember Sarah and honor her family this year, we have a beacon of hope now that Sarah’s Law is on the books.

When I learned that Sarah’s parents, Scott and Michelle – who were already facing an impossible tragedy – were forced to grapple with the fact that their daughter’s killer had been released, I took action and introduced Sarah’s Law. This legislation will close the loophole that let her killer walk free without facing justice.

One would think that Sarah’s killer – who was drunk driving with a blood alcohol three times the legal limit when he struck and killed her – would clearly meet Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) “enforcement priorities,” but citing the Obama administration’s November 2014 memo, ICE declined to take him into custody.

Before the Root family could even lay Sarah to rest, her murderer had posted bond, never to be seen again, and never to face justice.

Since then, I have warned repeatedly against the dangers of letting illegal immigrants – who have already broken our laws – roam the country and continue their lawlessness.

Through Sarah’s Law, I worked to ensure no other family must go through the pain and the grief that Scott and Michelle and the rest of their family still feel from that heartbreaking day.

Year after year, I reintroduced this bill, gained the support of my colleagues, and called for its passage.

When I saw momentum to act on the border, I brought the Root family’s concerns and the safety of all Iowans to the highest levels and made sure it was included as the first amendment to the Laken Riley Act, named after another American killed by an illegal immigrant.

It’s heartbreaking it took the death of another young woman, but now we have created real consequences, so these tragedies are no longer regular occurrences.

My amendment strengthened the legislation by requiring illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes against Americans to be detained.

This week’s signing at the White House is the culmination of a nine-year battle for justice for Sarah Root and her family. Finally, after years of working on this bill and under the leadership of President Trump, our nation’s laws will no longer prioritize illegal immigrants over Americans. Nine years later, we got this done for Sarah and for her entire family.

Joni Ernst, a native of Red Oak and a combat veteran, represents Iowa in the United States Senate.