• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / Senator Ernst reintroduces immigration bill in memory of Sarah Root

Senator Ernst reintroduces immigration bill in memory of Sarah Root

January 31, 2019 By Dar Danielson

Senator Joni Ernst.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst today remembered Sarah Root of Council Bluffs on the third anniversary of her death.

“Sarah, who was 21 years old at the time. Was struck and killed on the night of her graduation by an illegal immigrant who was drag racing and driving drunk, three times over the legal limit,” Ernst says. The man who struck and killed Root in Omaha was not detained by ICE and fled the country.

“In honor of Sarah and her family’s strength, today I am reintroducing my bill ‘Sarah’s law,’ to allow law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants who are criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring others,” Ernst says. Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, says Root’s story should not be forgotten. “We have an obligation to the Root family and to the American people to ensure that no person falls victim to this injustice again,” according to Ernst. “That’s why I’ll be working hard in the Judiciary Committee, and on the Senate floor to advance this important bill.”

Sarah Root

Ernst says this issue is somewhat connected to the current stalemate over the building of a border wall and the budget — but not directly linked.
“While I don’t see that this would likely be moved as part of a package, I do think it has to be part of the discussion moving forward. What I believe in is legal immigration. I believe we have to have legal immigration,” Ernst says. She says Sarah’s Law is part of the whole issue that includes ensuring we don’t have “open and porous” borders.

“So, I do believe that we have to honor the American people by making sure our nation is secure,” Ernst says, “and that includes many different paths forward. And the president has been very clear about having our border protected by a physical barrier. He’s also stated that we need technology and we need additional border patrol agents. So, all of that has to be part of a package.” Ernst says there also needs to be a path forward for those who are here illegally not of their own free will.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley joined Ernst, along with Nebraska Senators Deb Fischer and Ben Sasse, in reintroducing the legislation in honor of Sarah.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Democratic Party, Illegal immigration, Joni Ernst, Republican Party

Featured Stories

Iowans 65+ now eligible in next phase of Covid vaccinations

Bill would remove transfer limits in five Iowa school districts

Former Iowa sports talk host sentenced to federal prison for ticket scams

Feenstra only member of Iowa delegation not at Biden’s inauguration

Congresswoman Axne favors Biden pandemic relief plan, Hinson not ruling out a ‘yes’

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

UNI adds two nonconference games to basketball schedule

Iowa State-Kansas postponed

Iowa-Michigan State postponed

Fire damage to Riverfront Stadium electrical system will cost Waterloo thousands

Iowa State at Kansas State postponed

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC