Dem Senator Makes Sick Illegal Immigration Move
Every day, Democratic leaders showcase their party's endorsement of lawlessness.
Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa pushed for a floor vote on Wednesday for a bill requiring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain illegal immigrants charged with violent offenses, as reported by Fox News.
The necessity for such legislation has been underscored by recent incidents, including migrants assaulting New York police officers and the tragic murder of college student Laken Riley at the University of Georgia, allegedly by an illegal immigrant.
Regrettably, not everyone in the Senate recognized the significance of Ernst's bill. Her unanimous consent request to advance the bill was blocked by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, bringing it to a complete standstill.
Senator Ernst vehemently advocated for a vote on the bill, emphasizing the importance of protecting innocent lives from criminals who are in the country illegally. She attempted to allay Democrats' concerns about the legislation, stating, "It would merely require ICE to detain, just to detain, otherwise deportable illegal immigrants charged with killing or seriously injuring another person."
Ernst spoke about the bill's namesake, "Sarah’s Law," named after Sarah Root, a 21-year-old Iowa woman whose life was tragically cut short in 2016 by Edwin Mejia, an illegal immigrant driving under the influence, according to police.
Referring to the Obama administration’s November 2014 memo on immigration enforcement priorities, Ernst mentioned that ICE declined to take custody of Mejia despite his repeated driving offenses and history of missing court dates.
Mejia was able to post bail and never appeared in court, becoming a fugitive who remains at large.
The senator also highlighted Riley’s recent murder, stating that it "did not have to happen" but is "doomed to be repeated" unless something changes.
However, her arguments were dismissed by Durbin, who claimed the legislation would "deprive immigrants of the due process that everyone is afforded," as reported by Fox News.
Durbin's justification ultimately lacks coherence. The bill does not deprive illegal immigrants of due process; it aims to ensure they can be held accountable for their actions, addressing a current gap in accountability.
When criminal immigrants can easily leave the country after being accused of violent crimes, it denies victims the justice they deserve.
Democratic leaders persistently demonstrate that their priority is not the American people. Hopefully, one day, there will be a shift, and measures will be taken to prevent further loss of lives due to illegal immigrants. Until then, the American people can attribute the current state of affairs to the Democratic Party.