Eight years ago this week, Iowans Michelle and Scott Root woke up to every parent’s worst nightmare: Their daughter, Sarah, had been killed by a drunk driver.
Sarah, a 21-year-old from Council Bluffs, had just graduated from Bellevue University in Nebraska with a 4.0 GPA and a bachelor’s degree in criminal investigations. She was headed home after celebrating the hard-earned milestone with her friends and family. She had her entire future ahead of her.
But while stopped at a traffic light, Sarah was struck and killed by Edwin, or “Eswin,” Mejia, an illegal immigrant with a blood alcohol level three times over the legal limit.
One would think her killer would clearly meet Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s “enforcement priorities.”
But no. Citing the Obama administration’s November 2014 memo on immigration enforcement priorities, ICE declined to lodge a detainer and take custody of Mejia despite his repeated driving offenses and history of skipping court dates.
Before the Root family could even lay their daughter to rest, Mejia posted a $5,000 bond, was released, and disappeared.