The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the sentencing of Eswin Mejia, who was convicted for the death of 21-year-old Sarah Root in a drunk-driving incident. Mejia received a prison sentence ranging from 20 to 22 years after being found guilty of motor vehicle homicide and fleeing to avoid arrest.
Secretary Kristi Noem commented on the outcome: "The criminal illegal alien who stole Sarah Root’s life was just convicted to 21 years. Nothing will bring her back but I am glad to see some justice for Sarah’s family," said Secretary Noem. "I want to thank Homeland Security Investigations and our interagency law enforcement partners for extraditing Sarah’s killer and bringing him back to the U.S. I also want to thank Senator Joni Ernst for her advocacy on behalf of Sarah and her family. Sarah should still be here today, and this illegal alien should have never been in our country in the first place. The Trump administration will always put the safety of Americans first."
Mejia was initially arrested in January 2016 following the crash that resulted in Root's death in Douglas County, Nebraska. At the time, his blood alcohol content was three times over the legal limit. After being released on bond in February 2016, he fled the United States.
Following these events, legislation known as Sarah’s Law was introduced in Congress and later incorporated into the Laken Riley Act, which became law under President Donald Trump. In March 2025, Homeland Security Investigations coordinated Mejia's extradition from Honduras—the first instance where Honduras extradited an individual to the United States for homicide charges.
Officials described this case as marking a decade-long pursuit of justice for Root's family and emphasized ongoing efforts by President Trump and Secretary Noem aimed at prioritizing public safety by preventing individuals with serious criminal backgrounds from being released into American communities.
