DHS extradites illegal Honduran migrant for alleged vehicular homicide of Iowan Sarah Root

The Department of Homeland Security on Friday announced that it had successfully extradited an illegal migrant from Honduras, who was tied to the alleged death of an American woman who was killed in a drunk driving incident in 2016.

Eswin Mejia was arrested in 2016 for vehicular homicide, after 21-year-old Sarah Root died in the crash. Mejia's blood alcohol level was allegedly three times over the legal limit at the time. The man was later released on bond in February of 2016, and he fled the country to evade prosecution.

The incident sparked legislation called Sarah's Law, which was added as an amendment to the Laken Riley Act. 

“The extradition and arrest of this criminal alien is the culmination of a nearly decade-long battle for justice for Sarah Root and her family," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. 

"Thanks to the hard work of our Homeland Security Investigation and our interagency law enforcement partners, Eswin Mejia, who fled the US to evade prosecution, will finally face justice for the killing of Sarah Root," she continued. "Sarah should still be here today, and this illegal alien should have never been in our country in the first place."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also praised the extradition, which comes nine years after the crash.

"Justice and accountability under the Trump Administration prevailed as the culprit of Sarah’s death has been extradited from Honduras to the United States so he can face justice once and for all," Rubio said. "I want to express my gratitude to the Honduran government for their cooperation in this extradition."

It is not clear when the trial will take place, nor whether Meija intends to plead guilty to the crime.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.