Nebraska, Iowa lawmakers reintroduce bill named for Sarah Root, who was killed by driver in U.S. illegally

WASHINGTON — Nebraska and Iowa lawmakers reintroduced legislation Thursday named for Sarah Root, the young Iowa woman killed last year in Omaha by a driver who was in the country illegally.

All four GOP senators from the two states, along with Reps. Don Bacon, R-Neb., and David Young, R-Iowa, were among those sponsoring “Sarah’s Law.”

The legislation would require federal immigration officials to take custody of any individual in the country illegally who is charged with a crime resulting in the death or serious bodily injury of another person.

Prosecutors say Eswin Mejia was intoxicated and drag racing when he caused the crash that killed Root. Mejia disappeared after being released on bail. The federal immigration agency ICE had declined local law enforcement requests to detain Mejia.

If Congress passes the proposal, it would presumably find a friendly reception at the White House. During his successful run for president, Donald Trump met with Root’s family and even invoked their plight during his speech at the Republican National Convention.

“I’ve met Sarah’s beautiful family,” he said that night. “But to this administration, their amazing daughter was just one more American life that wasn’t worth protecting. One more child to sacrifice on the altar of open borders.”