Iowa Congressman David Young Statement Regarding President's Immigration Enforcement Executive Order Relating To Sarah's Law

Statement

Iowa Congressman David Young issued the following statement after the President issued an Executive Order related to border security and immigration enforcement improvements:

"In 2016, we lost a young Iowan on the day of her college graduation. Sarah Root had a future as bright as her smile but it was tragically cut short when she was struck and killed by an undocumented immigrant who was drag racing while intoxicated. Sarah's family never saw justice served because her killer was released at large part because of the absolute failure of enforcing our nation's federal immigration laws. He remains at-large because of legal, and federal enforcement agency, mis-steps.

Sarah Root's death was a horrific tragedy and nothing can bring her back. But, we will honor her memory for making sure no family ever again has to experience the pain of justice denied. I applaud the President for including directives to 'detain individuals apprehended on suspicion of violating Federal or State law, including Federal immigration law, pending further proceedings regarding those violations' (Section 2 (b)).

Now we must continue our efforts to pass Sarah's Law so that this policy becomes the permanent, enforceable, law of the land."

Earlier this year, Congressman Young reintroduced Sarah's Law (H.R. 300), legislation names in honor Sarah Root, which requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take custody of any individual who has entered or remains in the United States illegally and is also charged with a crime resulting in the death or serious bodily injury of another person. The legislation also requires ICE to make reasonable efforts to update crime victims or their families with relevant information about the criminal or the federal agency's efforts.

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