VIDEO NEWS RELEASE (VNR): Ernst Reintroduces Sarah’s Law

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) reintroduced Sarah’s Law today, in honor of a fellow Iowan, Sarah Root, a 21 year-old young woman who was struck and killed by a drunk driver who was in the country illegally.  Sarah’s Law will allow federal law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring another person.

To download the full video recording, click here or on the image above.

The full script is below.

Hi, I’m Senator Joni Ernst.

Many Iowans have heard the tragic story of Sarah Root. At just 21 years of age, Sarah was killed by a drunk driver who was in our country illegally. After being charged, Sarah’s killer was allowed to post bail, and was not detained by authorities. Sarah’s killer disappeared and remains at-large to this day.

Today, on the three-year anniversary of Sarah’s death, I am reintroducing my legislation in her honor, which is named Sarah’s Law.

This bill is commonsense legislation.  It requires federal law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants who are criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring another person, like Sarah.

We have an obligation to the Root family, and to the American people, to ensure that no daughter, sister, friend or neighbor falls victim to this injustice again.

For Sarah and all those who face injustice like this, I’ll be working hard on the Senate Judiciary Committee and on the Senate floor to move this bill forward.

Thank you.

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