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Grassley questions ICE enforcement in Mejia case

Posted at 8:58 AM, Mar 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-15 09:58:54-04

During a floor speech Monday, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley echoed similar questions asked by Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies they say allowed a drunk driving suspect to flee from justice.

Grassley criticized ICE for denying a request from the Omaha Police Department to take Eswin Mejia into custody after he was accused of causing the crash that killed 21-year-old Sarah Root while street racing with a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit.

"Because the administration's policies and carelessness, Sarah Root became another victims. This case shows once against that there is a colossal and systematic breakdown of immigration enforcement," Grassley said.

His comments echo similar ones made by Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse.

Sasse sent a letter to ICE Director Sarah Saldana asking specific questions about Mejia's case.

"Given Mr. Mejia's disappearance, ICE should explain clearly how it implemented its detention policy in this case," Sasse wrote.