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Sarah Rae-Ann Root (May 1, 1994 – January 31, 2016) was an American woman who was killed by a drunk driver.[1][2] The driver, Eswin Mejia, was an illegal immigrant and was placed on the ICE Most Wanted List.[3] His blood alcohol content was 0.241, three times the legal limit.[4][5] Sarah's mother, Michelle, became an advocate for changing the laws for illegal immigrants.
Sarah Rae-Ann Root | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 1, 1994 |
| Died | January 31, 2016 |
| Cause of death | Hit by drunk driver |
| Education | Bellevue University |
| Parents |
|
In his presidential acceptance speech, Donald Trump criticized the Obama administration's immigration policy, referencing Root as being "just one more American life that wasn't worth protecting" and "one more child to sacrifice on the altar of open borders".[6]
Sarah's Law
editAfter her death, her mother brought the matter to Iowa Senators Charles Grassley and Joni Ernst and Nebraska Senators Deb Fisher and Ben Sasse for the implementation of Sarah's Law.[7] The law would require "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take into custody certain undocumented immigrants who have been charged in the United States with a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person"[5] As of 2020, the bill has not passed into law,[8] although portions were implemented in a 2017 executive order by President Trump directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to prioritize the removal of violent criminals.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Sarah's Law passes in U.S. House". 10 11 Now. 30 June 2017.
- ^ "Trump uses Iowan's death as reason to strengthen immigration laws". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- ^ Amatangelo, Nick (2018-07-27). "Sarah Root's mother to hear her daughter's heart beat again". KETV. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- ^ "The story of Sarah Root, who Trump said was sacrificed 'on the altar of open borders'". Washington Post. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- ^ a b "A Bill" (PDF). Ernst Senate Government.
- ^ Stahl, Jeremy. "The Story Behind the Most Odious Line in Trump's Republican Convention Speech". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- ^ "IA & NE Senators Introduce Sarah's Law:Legislation to honor Sarah Root". KJAN. 2016-06-30. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
- ^ "S.285 - Sarah's Law". congress.gov. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
- ^ "Passage of Sarah's Law Blocked by Senate Members". KIOW. 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2020-10-25.
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