‘Congress Needs to Act:’ Iowa Sen. Ernst Calls for Passage of Sarah’s Law After Mollie Tibbetts’ Murder

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said Wednesday on Outnumbered Overtime that Sarah's Law has been reintroduced to Congress after the murder of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts.

The proposed law would require an illegal immigrant charged with a crime that resulted in someone's death to be detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

It was named after another Iowan, Sarah Root, who was killed in a crash involving a car driven by an illegal immigrant in 2016.

"It seems so simple and straightforward, yet we haven't received the traction," Ernst said.

Ernst said that the loss of Tibbetts has "deeply" hurt so many residents in her state, and to have the weeks-long search end in tragedy is "disheartening."

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Ernst also praised ICE agents on Wednesday for continuing to work to prevent drug, human and weapons trafficking across the border.

"We need them if we are planning on safeguarding our American homeland."

She added that Sarah's Law would be vital in preventing illegal immigrants responsible for crimes from fleeing the country without repercussion.

"We need to have it codified," she said, noting that President Trump signed an executive order in January of 2017 that implements portions of the law.

"Congress needs to act."