Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Joni Ernst, along with other Republican colleagues, have introduced Sarah’s Law to amend the mandatory detention provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The proposed legislation aims to require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants who are criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring another person.

Dr. Cassidy emphasized the disparity in treatment between American citizens and illegal immigrants involved in serious crimes, stating, “If a drunk American had killed someone while driving three times over the legal drinking limit, they would not have been set free. Why are illegal immigrants being treated differently?” He described Sarah Root's death as "terrible" and criticized the lack of justice for her family as "unacceptable."

Senator Ernst also expressed her determination to close what she sees as a loophole in federal law that allowed Sarah Root's killer to remain at large for nearly nine years. She stated, “Sarah Root had her entire life ahead of her before it was senselessly taken by someone who never should have been in this country.” Ernst added that she has worked tirelessly on Sarah’s Law to hold accountable those illegal immigrants who cause bodily harm to U.S. citizens.

Michelle Root, Sarah's mother, shared her family's ongoing struggle since her daughter's death nearly nine years ago. She said, “This law is to make sure no other family has to go through what our family has.”

Sarah’s Law is designed to work alongside the Laken Riley Act to address gaps in federal law concerning crimes committed by illegal immigrants against Americans. It includes provisions for ICE to identify victims and inform their families when encountering an illegal immigrant subject to mandatory detention.

The legislation is supported by several Republican senators including Chuck Grassley, Katie Britt, James Lankford, Kevin Cramer, Bill Hagerty, Tim Scott, Ted Cruz, Ted Budd, Mike Crapo, Steve Daines, John Cornyn, Jerry Moran, Lindsey Graham, Deb Fischer, Roger Marshall, Tim Sheehy, Jim Risch, John Curtis, Rick Scott, Pete Ricketts, Mike Rounds, Shelley Moore Capito and John Kennedy.

The initiative follows the tragic incident on January 31st 2016 when Sarah Root was killed by Edwin Mejia—a drunk driver who was illegally residing in the United States—after which he was released on bond due to a legal loophole and subsequently disappeared.

Cassidy has also co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act this year and last Congress calling for its immediate consideration.