Ernst Applauds Trump Administration for Putting Iowans First

WASHINGTON – During a U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) thanked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for answering her calls to action to deliver justice for Iowan Sarah Root and secure the integrity of Iowa’s elections.

Watch Senator Ernst’s full remarks here.

Ernst contrasted how, after the Biden administration’s inaction, it took the Trump administration just weeks to locate Iowan Sarah Root’s killer in Honduras and extradite him to America. His arrest and extradition came after Ernst fought for nearly a decade to deliver justice for the Root family after Sarah’s killer was released on bail and fled the country.

Noem thanked Senator Ernst for telling Sarah’s story and noted that this was the first case where Honduras extradited someone for a homicide, which set a precedent and established an important relationship. “Telling her story doesn’t fall on deaf ears with this administration,” Noem said.

After investigating nearly 2,000 registered Iowa “voters” designated as non-citizens, Ernst commended Noem for her work to ensure illegal immigrants are not able to vote in our elections.

Background:

For nine years since the tragedy, Senator Ernst worked tirelessly to pass Sarah’s Law to bring closure to the Root family and ensure this never happens again. This year, she shepherded the legislation through the Senate and the House, and President Trump made this legislation the law of the land.

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