Sarah’s Law Is Now the Law of the Land
Last year, our country witnessed unthinkable tragedies at the hands of illegal immigrants. The murder of Laken Riley – a 22-year-old nursing student – shook our nation to its core and eroded an important sense of security that every American deserves. And to think, this all could have been avoided.
Laken’s killer was apprehended at our border in 2022 but released, and after being found guilty of shoplifting in 2024, was let go once again – allowing this dangerous criminal to roam the streets and take an innocent life. Sadly, Laken’s story is a painful reminder of a tragedy in Iowa nine years ago.
On January 31, 2016, following her graduation from Bellevue University, 21-year-old Sarah Root was struck and killed by an illegal immigrant who was driving while drunk – three times over the legal limit. Common sense would have us believe that Sarah’s killer would have been brought to justice. But that was not the case. Instead of being prosecuted for his crimes, the illegal immigrant posted bail, was released from jail, and was never seen from again due to a loophole in federal law.
A loving daughter, a kind soul, and a native of Council Bluffs, Sarah’s life was cut far too short. She would never feel the excitement of starting her first job out of college, walking down the aisle, raising a family of her own, or creating new memories with the people she loved the most – all because a dangerous illegal immigrant was prioritized over an American citizen.
That’s why we took action and introduced Sarah’s Law, named in honor of this young Iowan. Specifically, our bill requires U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants criminally charged with killing or seriously injuring another person. It also puts families first by requiring ICE to inform victims’ families of any information available related to the crime so that loved ones are not needlessly left in the dark.
For years, we have been calling to pass this bill and close the loopholes in our federal law. When we saw movement on legislation to counter the threat of illegal immigrant crime, we acted swiftly. We knew we had to get this done for the Root family, so no other American would have to endure this nightmare.
Following our advocacy, Congress passed, and President Trump signed, into law the Laken Riley Act, which includes Sarah’s Law. Now, illegal immigrants who seriously injure or kill American citizens must be detained so they can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. It’s common sense. We are a nation of laws, and illegal immigrants who break our laws must answer for their crimes.
Sarah Root deserves to be alive today. Baseless loopholes in our nation’s laws failed her, just like they failed Laken Riley. While the pain and heartbreak never truly heal, Sarah’s Law will ensure illegal immigrants answer for their crimes and deliver some semblance of justice for the Root family and for any other families who lost a loved one at the hands of an illegal immigrant.
This op-ed was originally published in the Northwest Iowa Review on February 5, 2025.