Feenstra Urges Colleagues to Support Sarah’s Law as Border Crisis Worsens
WASHINGTON -- Today, Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-04) spoke on the House floor to urge his colleagues to support Sarah’s Law. Named in honor of Sarah Root, this proposal would require authorities to keep illegal immigrants in custody if they’ve been charged with a crime that resulted in death or serious bodily injury.
This renewed push comes as the crisis at our southern border continues to worsen due to inaction from the Biden administration. Border encounters have reached a two decade high, with 180,000 encounters last month compared to just 23,000 in May of 2020. Reports indicate around 1,500 migrants are coming into the country and evading border patrol daily.
“Unlike Vice President Harris -- the administration's self-appointed ‘border czar’ -- I went to the border and heard directly from law enforcement officers. We need to ensure they have the resources they need to do their jobs, and we need to start enacting stricter immigration and border security policies to address the crisis. At the very least, we can all agree that neither American citizens nor illegal immigrants should be able to get away with evading the law. Sarah's Law would ensure illegal immigrants cannot escape justice due to immigration policy loopholes, and that is why I urge my colleagues to support this legislation,” said Rep. Feenstra.
Click here or below to watch Feenstra’s full floor speech
Below are Rep. Feenstra’s remarks, as prepared for delivery:
I rise today to discuss Sarah’s Law, a bicameral bill I introduced along with Senator Ernst.
Our proposal, named in honor of Sarah Root, would require authorities to keep illegal immigrants in custody if they’ve been charged with a crime that resulted in death or serious bodily injury.
I am pleased that my proposal was included in the Republican Study Committee’s budget.
After all, budgets reflect priorities.
And given the crisis at our southern border, it is crucial that we implement tougher immigration policies that protect Iowans and Americans.
Border encounters have hit the highest level in over two decades, with 180,000 encounters in the last month compared to 23,000 in May 2020.
Yet, President Biden’s bloated 6 trillion dollar budget proposal doesn’t include a single cent more for Homeland Security.
Unlike Vice President Harris -- the administration's self-appointed border czar -- I went to the border, and I heard directly from law enforcement officers.
We need to ensure they have the resources they need to do their jobs, and we need to start enacting stricter immigration and border security policies to address the crisis.
At the very least, we can all agree that neither American citizens nor illegal immigrants should be able to evade the law.
Sarah's Law would ensure illegal immigrants cannot escape justice simply due to immigration policy loopholes.
I urge my colleagues to support (our budget which includes common sense proposals like) Sarah's Law.
I yield back.
Background
Nearly five years ago, Sarah Root was struck and killed by an illegal immigrant who was drunk driving and drag racing. He was charged with felony motor-vehicle homicide, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and he faced up to 20 years in prison. However, he was released due to an Obama-era policy loophole and has since disappeared. Sarah’s Law would ensure illegal immigrants cannot escape justice simply due to immigration policy loopholes -- requiring authorities to keep illegal immigrants in custody if they’ve been charged with a crime that resulted in death or serious bodily injury.
The measure, H.R. 1496, currently has 35 cosponsors in the House.
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