Family of Iowa Grad Killed by Illegal Immigrant to Attend Trump's State of the Union

The father and brother of Sarah Root will be in the audience as Trump delivers his address to Congress.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The father and brother of Sarah Root, a 21-year-old Iowa native killed by a drunk driver who was in the U.S. illegally, will attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday. The Trump administration helped track down and extradite the suspect, Eswin Mejia, from Honduras in 2025, and he was sentenced to over 20 years in prison. Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, invited the Root family to the event, which he says sends a strong message about the administration's crackdown on illegal immigration.

Why it matters

The case of Sarah Root's death at the hands of an illegal immigrant has become a rallying cry for Trump's hardline stance on immigration enforcement. Her family's presence at the State of the Union underscores the administration's efforts to deport criminal illegal aliens and deter future incidents through legislation like the Laken Riley Act, which includes an amendment named after Root.

The details

Sarah Root was killed in Nebraska in January 2016, just hours after graduating from Bellevue University, by a drunk driver whose blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit. The driver, Eswin Mejia, was in the U.S. illegally at the time. He was arrested but released on bond the following month and fled the country. The Trump administration later tracked Mejia down in Honduras and extradited him to the U.S. in March 2025, where he was sentenced to over 20 years in prison.

  • Sarah Root was killed in January 2016.
  • Eswin Mejia was arrested and released on bond the following month in February 2016.
  • Mejia fled the country after his release.
  • The Trump administration extradited Mejia from Honduras in March 2025.
  • Mejia was sentenced to over 20 years in prison.

The players

Sarah Root

A 21-year-old Iowa native who was killed by a drunk driver who was in the U.S. illegally.

Eswin Mejia

The drunk driver who killed Sarah Root and was in the U.S. illegally at the time of the incident.

Scott Root

The father of Sarah Root.

Rep. Randy Feenstra

The Republican Congressman from Iowa who invited the Root family to attend the State of the Union address.

President Donald Trump

The President who has made cracking down on illegal immigration a key focus of his administration.

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What they’re saying

“I think that the message it sends is that, under President Trump, that we will find you. I mean, if you're an illegal criminal in this state or in this country, we will find you, and you will get deported, or you will be prosecuted. I think that is the message loud and clear.”

— Rep. Randy Feenstra, Republican Congressman from Iowa (Fox News Digital)

What’s next

The judge in Eswin Mejia's case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the Trump administration's aggressive approach to deporting illegal immigrants, especially those involved in serious crimes, and the impact it has on families like the Roots who have lost loved ones to illegal immigrant violence.