[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 20 (Thursday, January 31, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. ERNST (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Sasse, Mrs. Fischer, 
        Mr. Tillis, Mr. Thune, Mr. Cotton, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Moran, 
        Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Inhofe, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Scott of South 
        Carolina, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Perdue, and Mr. Cramer):
  S. 285. A bill to require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to 
take into custody certain aliens who have been charged in the United 
States with a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury 
of another person, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the 
Judiciary.
  Ms. ERNST. Thank you, Mr. President.
  Today I rise on the 3-year anniversary of the tragic death of a 
constituent of mine, Sarah Root. On January 31, 2016, the same day as 
her college graduation, Sarah was killed in nearby Omaha, NE, by an 
illegal immigrant named Edwin Mejia. He was drag racing with a blood 
alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.
  Despite requests by local law enforcement, Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement failed to detain Mejia because of a nonsensical policy that 
allows ICE to use discretion when determining whether to detain an 
illegal immigrant. He posted bond, he was released, and 3 years later 
remains a fugitive. It has been 3 years, and he is still a fugitive, 
denying Sarah's loved ones any sense of closure or justice.
  As a mom, I can't fathom the grief her family and friends continue to 
feel after such a devastating loss. My own daughter is approaching the 
age at which Sarah was killed.
  Just 21 years old, Sarah was bright, she was gifted, she was full of 
life and ready to take on the world. What a talented young lady.
  She had just graduated from Bellevue University with a 4.0 GPA. She 
was dedicated to her community, and she wanted to pursue a career in 
criminal justice. Sarah had her whole future ahead of her, but her 
opportunity to make her mark on the world was taken away from her. Her 
life was tragically cut short. Yet even in death, Sarah touched the 
lives of others. Sarah saved six different individuals through her 
organ donation.
  Sadly, what happened to Sarah Root is not an isolated incident.
  We have seen this story play out time and again in the 3 years since 
Sarah's killing--innocent lives taken by criminals who entered the 
United States illegally through a porous border. Crimes committed by 
those here illegally are truly among the most heartbreaking and 
senseless, and that is because these crimes are completely preventable, 
as the perpetrators should not be in the United States in the first 
place.
  Although nothing can bring Sarah back to her family, we can ensure 
that ICE never makes this same mistake again. That is why I rise today 
and, again, join with my colleagues from Iowa and Nebraska, including 
the Presiding Officer; thank you again for joining in this legislation. 
We are introducing Sarah's Law again in honor of Sarah Root.
  Sarah's Law would require that ICE take custody of a person who is in 
the country illegally and who is charged with a crime that seriously 
injures another person. Sarah's Law would also require better victim 
notification and amend the law to require that the Federal Government 
take custody of anyone who enters the United States legally but 
violated the terms of their immigration status or had their visa 
revoked and is later charged with a crime that resulted in the death or 
harm of another person.
  President Trump implemented parts of Sarah's Law through an Executive 
order in 2017, and I commend him for that. It included directing the 
Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize the removal of criminals 
who are here illegally. The Executive order also establishes an office 
to implement notification requirements of Sarah's Law.
  Despite provisions of Sarah's Law being put into place by President 
Trump's order, it is critical that the Senate take up this legislation 
in order to codify these enforcement priorities so that any future 
administration cannot remove these provisions. No family should ever 
have to endure such a tragedy, especially one that could have been 
prevented. The fact remains that Sarah's killer would not have been in 
our country if it weren't for our country's broken immigration system.
  Sarah's Law is commonsense reform. It recognizes the simple fact that 
all criminals should be held accountable for their actions. How much 
more commonsense can this be, folks? Hold criminals accountable. We 
should not allow them simply to slip back into the shadows.
  I recognize that the immigration debate has become a political 
football. We see that every day here in Washington, DC, but the 
security of our borders and enforcement of our immigration laws is not 
a game. We must honor the lives of these innocent victims and do 
better. We must work to stop future crimes.
  I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to fulfill 
the promise I made to Sarah's loving parents, Michelle Root and Scott 
Root. I will do everything I can to ensure that not one more parent has 
to go through what the Roots have faced--the loss of their daughter and 
the promise of justice.
  Madam President, I thank you for joining me on this legislation. It 
means a lot to this family and many others.
                                 ______