Politics

Chuck Grassley Requests Senate Homeland Security Committee Briefing On Mollie Tibbetts Suspect

Iowa Department of Public Safety/Handout via REUTERS

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Evie Fordham Politics and Health Care Reporter
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Republican Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley requested a briefing on the Mollie Tibbetts case from the Department of Homeland Security for the Senate Judiciary Committee, which he chairs, in a letter to DHS Sec. Kirstjen Nielsen Wednesday.

“Please provide any information on the suspect, including the Homeland Security Investigations Executive Summary on Rivera, and provide a briefing to committee staff as soon as possible but no later than August 24, 2018,” Grassley wrote.

Mexican national Christian Bahena-Rivera, 24, was charged with the murder of 20-year-old Iowa college student Tibbetts Tuesday. Bahena-Rivera was illegally residing in the U.S.

“It is crucial we understand the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of this young Iowan so that we can address any vulnerabilities in our border security apparatus, existing laws, enforcement practices, and resource allocation,” Grassley continued in the letter Wednesday. “We must prevent murders such as Tibbetts’ from ever happening again.”

Grassley and junior Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst released a statement Tuesday that gave condolences to Tibbetts’ loved ones as well as described legislation they would like to see passed. Grassley and Ernst described “Sarah’s Law” in the statement. They introduced the legislation in 2016 after Iowa woman Sarah Root was killed by an illegal immigrant.

Sarah’s Law would mandate Immigration and Customs Enforcement take custody of illegal aliens charged with some serious violent crimes. The legislation would also require the federal government to detain anyone who is charged with the “death or serious bodily injury of another person” and has violated the terms of his or her immigration status or had his or her visa revoked. (RELATED: Mike Pence Prays With The Family Of Missing Iowa College Student Mollie Tibbetts)

Tibbetts was a rising sophomore studying psychology at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. She enjoyed reading and public speaking and was a member of the Catholic Church, reported the Des Moines Register.

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