Feenstra’s bill to toughen prosecution of illegal immigrants passes House committee

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee on March 21 voted 14-9 to approve a Republican-led bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) that would ensure illegal immigrants who seriously injure or kill American citizens are detained and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“Thankfully, we are now one step closer to ensuring this important legislation becomes law,” Rep. Feenstra said on Monday. “We are a nation of laws and illegal immigrants who break our laws must answer for their crimes.”

Rep. Feenstra on Jan. 31, 2023 proposed Sarah’s Law, H.R. 661, alongside 37 Republican original cosponsors to require that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain a non-U.S. national (“alien” under federal law) who is unlawfully present in the United States and has been charged with a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person, according to the congressional record bill summary.

Now that the House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 661, the bill heads to the full U.S. House of Representatives for a vote. 

The measure is named for 21-year-old Iowan Sarah Root, who was killed eight years ago by an illegal immigrant who was driving while drunk. Due to a loophole in federal law, the illegal immigrant posted bail, was released from jail, and was never seen again, according to information provided by Rep. Feenstra’s staff.

“As a father of four, I cannot fathom the pain that the Root family feels to this day,” said the congressman. “I have personally met with Sarah’s mother, Michelle Root, and promised her that I would do everything possible to deliver justice for her daughter and her family.”

The identical bill, S. 160, which U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) also introduced in January 2023 with 11 Republican cosponsors, is under consideration in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

“As we witness even more consequences of Biden’s intentional failure to secure the border, we must pass Sarah’s Law, so no other parent has to endure the pain and injustice of losing a child like the Root family did,” said Sen. Ernst. “As this critical legislation takes an important step forward, I will continue to lead the charge in the Senate until this loophole is closed. Our laws should not prioritize illegal immigrants over the safety of Americans.”