Tweet - "SOON *special character* I will speak on the floor to request that the Senate call up & pass my commonsense immigration reform bill -- Sarah's Law -- that requires fed law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants who've killed or seriously injured another person."

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"SOON *special character* I will speak on the floor to request that the Senate call up & pass my commonsense immigration reform bill -- Sarah's Law -- that requires fed law enforcement to detain illegal immigrants who've killed or seriously injured another person. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/floor_activity_pail.htm"

"Democrat or Republican, Conservative or Liberal…we know our immigration system is broken…that's an easy statement to make, but nothing ever changes and we need to start getting things done."

"In Iowa, we've learned this in a very tragic way.

On January 31st, 2016 -- the same day as her college graduation -- Sarah Root was killed by an illegal immigrant named Edwin Mejia. He was drag racing with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit."

"Despite repeated requests by local law enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement failed to detain Mejia because of a nonsensical policy that allows ICE to use discretion when determining whether to detain a criminal alien charged with a violent offense."

"Mejia posted bond, was released, and disappeared. Still, more than 4 years later, he remains a fugitive -- denying Sarah's loved ones any sense of justice or closure. As a mother, I cannot fathom the grief that her family and friends continue to feel after such a devastating loss."

"Sadly, what happened to Sarah is not an isolated incident. We have seen this story play out time and time again in the more than four years since Sarah's killing. Innocent lives taken by criminals that entered the U.S. illegally through a porous border--but nothing ever changes."

"Today, I rise to call upon my Senate colleagues to end this senseless madness. To do something and stop another tragedy like this from happening with a simple and clean fix. I am asking the Senate to join 26 of their colleagues and pass my bill, Sarah's Law."

"Sarah's Law is simple: it requires that ICE take custody of a person who is in the country illegally if they are charged w/ a crime that seriously injures another person."

"Sarah's Law is about as commonsense a reform as there is. It recognizes the simple fact that all criminals should be held accountable for their actions, and not simply allowed to slip back into the shadows."

"Here's a bit of good news: President Trump implemented parts of Sarah's Law through an executive order in 2017, including directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize the removal of violent criminals."

"Despite provisions of Sarah's Law being put in place by executive order, it is critical that the Senate codify these enforcement priorities, so that they cannot be removed by future administrations."

"This bill isn't about the southern border or the wall or visa numbers or the larger immigration debate at all…this bill is about changing the system for the better and ensuring that families have the promise of justice."

"I intend to fulfill that promise to Sarah's loving parents -- Michelle Root and Scott Root -- the promise that I will do everything I can to ensure that not one more parent has to go through what the Roots have faced…the loss of both their daughter and the promise of justice."

@SenJoniErnst

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