U.S. House passes Sarah's Law, other immigration measures

U.S. House passes Sarah's Law, other immigration measures | Nation | omaha.com

WASHINGTON — Iowan Michelle Root was in the House gallery applauding Thursday as lawmakers approved a measure named for her daughter, Sarah, who was killed last year in Omaha by a drunken driver who was in the country illegally.In an interview later, Michelle Root said the bill’s passage was an honor to all of those who have died as a result of illegal immigration.

“It was a win for them today,” she said. “Their voices are heard today.”


The driver who killed Sarah was arrested following the crash but was released on bail and disappeared.

“Sarah’s Law” would require federal immigration officials to take custody of any individual who is in the country illegally and charged with a crime resulting in the death or serious bodily injury of another person.

The House Judiciary Committee chairman praised Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, for authoring Sarah’s Law and getting it included in a broader bill aimed at cracking down on sanctuary jurisdictions.

The House approved that sanctuary city legislation, 228-195, as well as another bill that would enhance penalties for people who re-enter the country illegally.

All five GOP House members who represent Nebraska and western Iowa supported both of the bills.

King noted that he has been working on these issues for years. “We’re starting to restore the rule of law,” he said.

Rep. David Young, R-Iowa, who also had introduced a Sarah’s Law bill, said, “Sarah had her whole life in front of her and then through incompetence and uncertainty about the law and policy or both, but for sure a lack of common sense, Sarah’s killer was released,” Young said on the House floor.

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said in a statement that the legislation would ensure that a case like Sarah Root’s cannot happen again.

Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., said the bills passed will ensure that sanctuary policies cannot supersede federal immigration laws and will more heavily penalize deported felons who return.

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Sarah was actually killed about two blocks from my house by an illegal alien the day after she graduated from college.

Many people claim her parents and politicians are using her death to further their own agendas however as someone who is more on the other side of immigration than them, I don't agree with this. There is no reason that if someone is here illegally that they are not sent home after serving the time without any bail and I applaud them for pushing for their law.

Not only was it a disgrace the judge let the guy out on bail, this judge wasn't even voted out when he was up for re-election. Hopefully now with this bill, even with judges like that, justice can hopefully be served.

I honestly don't understand why anyone would be against cracking down on illegal immigrants who harm Americans.

I hate hate these highly personalized law names, even when they are not written into the actual LAW.

Law is for all of us, justice is for all of us, and god damn it can we please stop celebrating victims....

Hawkeye10 said:

I hate hate these highly personalized law names, even when they are not written into the actual LAW.

Law is for all of us, justice is for all of us, and god damn it can we please stop celebrating victims....

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I disagree. There wasn't and still isn't justice for Sarah, her killer got a free pass. Now her family has campaigned to make sure no other family has to have the law let them down and since they have fought so hard, they deserve the personalized law name.

Josie said:

I honestly don't understand why anyone would be against cracking down on illegal immigrants who harm Americans.

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I agree, it's quite puzzling.

americanwoman said:

I disagree. There wasn't and still isn't justice for Sarah, her killer got a free pass. Now her family has campaigned to make sure no other family has to have the law let them down and since they have fought so hard, they deserve the personalized law name.

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Justice never was for Sarah, it was always for all of us. I well understand why political pressure comes to us here in the form of victim worship given how it is practically a crime now to dispute victim culture tenets but we really should say no,.....we really should demand better, we really should demand acknowledgement that justice is for all.

I'm waiting to see if the sanctuary cities enforce Sarah's Law.

Josie said:

I honestly don't understand why anyone would be against cracking down on illegal immigrants who harm Americans.

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Right? They are only hurting legal immigrants and citizens with all this virtue signaling. It's like a race where is trying to be the most righteous by supporting the most downtrodden in society (apparently criminals) at the expence of everyone else.

Hawkeye10 said:

I hate hate these highly personalized law names, even when they are not written into the actual LAW.

Law is for all of us, justice is for all of us, and god damn it can we please stop celebrating victims....

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I agree with the law.

But I also agree with your sentiments about celebrating victims.