Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today joined Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) in introducing a Senate resolution denouncing the Biden administration’s plan to ease immigration enforcement for those charged with drunk driving and some violent crimes, a move that could allow more violent criminals like Iowan Sarah Root’s killer to escape justice.
“I’m extremely concerned about President Biden’s approach to immigration in our country. I’ve been working with my colleagues on commonsense immigration policies over the years and the Biden administration is actively working to roll those back,” Grassley said. “A young Iowan, Sarah Root, was killed by an illegal immigrant who was driving drunk in 2016. The Obama/Biden administration refused to take custody of Sarah’s killer because it didn’t consider him a priority, allowing him to disappear into the shadows. He never should have been on the road in the first place and most certainly should have been held responsible for his actions. I’m going to continue to push the Administration on this issue to ensure illegal immigrants who have committed violent crimes are held accountable.”
In January 2016, Iowan Sarah Root was struck and killed by an illegal immigrant, Edwin Mejia, who was driving drunk. Mejia was released by federal law enforcement due to a loophole in the law and never faced justice.
The Biden Administration’s new plan would, in part, direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to cease prioritizing deportations for illegal immigrants convicted of drunk driving and some assault offenses. Grassley, Ernst and Fischer introduced the Senate resolution today calling for immigration enforcement agencies to continue prioritizing deporting illegal immigrants charged with drunk driving and violent crimes.
Earlier this year, Grassley and Ernst reintroduced their bill Sarah’s Law, named after Sarah Root, which requires federal law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring another person. In just his first week in office, President Biden reversed the Trump administration’s executive order that included parts of Sarah’s Law.
