Washington, D.C. – On the third anniversary of Sarah Root’s death, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE), along with Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and 11 additional colleagues, reintroduced Sarah’s Law. Edwin Mejia, was living illegally in the United States and killed Sarah Root in a drunk driving incident. Mejia then fled and remains on ICE’s most wanted list.
“Edwin Mejia’s mugshot shouldn’t be on a most wanted poster — Edwin Mejia should be in jail, serving hard time for the life he took and the pain he left behind,” said Sasse. “Sarah’s Law is common-sense legislation that Sarah and her family deserve to have signed into law. Congress should waste no time sending this legislation to the President’s desk for his signature.”
Backgroud:
Sarah’s Law would allow federal law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring another person.
January 31, 2016: Eswin Mejia is drunk street racing down L Street in Omaha when he crashes into Ms. Sarah Root ’s vehicle. Mejia is booked for DUI and reckless driving resulting in serious bodily injury.
February 26, 2016: Mejia fails to appear in court related to the January 31 accident.
February 29, 2016: Sasse demands answers from ICE Director Sarah Saldana on why Eswin Mejia was not taken into custody.
March 15, 2016: Sasse grills ICE Director Saldana for answers at a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The administration admits Mejia was a “threat to public safety.” Director Saldana commits to responding to all of Sasse’s questions by March 25th.
March 24, 2016: Sasse, along with Senators from Nebraska and Iowa, press ICE Director Saldana pressing for clarifications regarding her contradictory testimony to Congress.
March 29, 2016: After ICE fails to respond, Sasse increases public pressure .
March 30, 2016: After pressure from Sasse, ICE places Mejia on the Ten Most Wanted List. Sasse makes it clear that “Mr. Mejia should not need to be on this list — he should be in jail.”
April 4, 2016: ICE Director Sarah Saldana replies to Sasse’s February 29 letter, but provides no substantive answers. Sasse elevates the inquiry to a member of the President’s Cabinet, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson.
