Earlier this month Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse grilled Sarah Saldana, the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, otherwise known as ICE.
“Do you think somebody who street races while driving drunk and kills another person is a threat to public safety,” asked Senator Ben Sasse.
Sasse is referring to 19-year-old Eswin Mejia, the Honduras native accused of killing 21-year-old Sarah Root while he was allegedly driving drunk and speeding in South Omaha on January 31st.
“If an illegal alien kills an American citizen should ICE let that person go free,” asked Senator Sasse.
Mejia was arrested and charged with motor vehicle homicide. Omaha authorities say they asked that ICE detain Mejia. ICE states they tried to act, but there wasn't enough time between the request and when Mejia posted his $5000 bond. Mejia is missing.
“The Feds didn't do what they should do and their chief mission of their agency is to protect the public safety and they failed,” said Senator Sasse.
Sasse says Saldana said he would get answers to his questions about Mejia by the 25th. On Thursday, the senator said he has yet to hear back.
“We are going to keep pushing and ultimately make ICE answer these questions. We are going to hold their feet to the fire, we will never give up,” said Senator Sasse.
ICE issued a statement saying, “ICE will reply to the senator through the appropriate channels as soon as is practicable.”
On Wednesday ICE added Eswin Mejia to their most wanted list. Sasse says he wouldn’t be on that list if ICE had done their job.
“This is a guy who was a threat to public safety and that local law enforcement believed to be actively involved in drunken street racing in the past. There is a woman who is dead because there is a man who should have been and should be behind bars,” said Senator Sasse.
