Source: United States Senator for Minnesota Amy Klobuchar
Family of four froze to death along the Minnesota-Canada border
KLOBUCHAR: “This tragic incident illustrates that there is more work to be done”
WASHINGTON – Following the tragic death of a family of four along the Minnesota-Canada border, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requesting more information about the investigation and the Department’s plans to combat human smuggling.
Klobuchar urged DHS to coordinate with local law enforcement, noting “As a former prosecutor, I know how important it is for the federal government to closely coordinate with state and tribal law enforcement, as well as with international governments, to combat this threat and to provide resources to officials working on the front lines of the fight against smuggling and trafficking.”
She continued: “I appreciate the Administration’s actions to stop human smuggling and trafficking, including its creation of Operation Sentinel, a counter-network targeting operation focused on stopping the smuggling of vulnerable people across the border. At the same time, this tragic incident illustrates that there is more work to be done.”
Klobuchar has been a leader in the fight to protect victims of human smuggling and trafficking.
In July 2019, she co-led bipartisan legislation to crack down on addiction-driven human trafficking. The Protecting Rights of Those Exploited by Coercive Trafficking (PROTECT) Act would address the use of drugs to facilitate human trafficking and protect vulnerable victims of trafficking.
In December 2018, Klobuchar and Senator John Cornyn’s (R-TX) bipartisan Abolish Human Trafficking Act was signed into law. The bipartisan legislation strengthens and reauthorizes key programs supporting survivors of human trafficking and provides resources to law enforcement officials working to combat modern-day slavery.
In April 2018, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) was signed into law and included the Klobuchar-backed Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) to help stop online sex trafficking and provide justice for victims. SESTA clarifies Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act so that websites that knowingly facilitate sex trafficking are held accountable for their crimes.
In January 2018, Klobuchar and Senator John Thune’s (R-SD) Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act and No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act became law to combat human trafficking in the transportation sector.
In 2016, Klobuchar and Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the Stop Trafficking on Planes (STOP) Act to require training for certain airline industry employees to recognize and report suspected human trafficking to law enforcement. A provision based on this legislation was signed into law as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act.
Full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.
Dear Secretary Mayorkas:
Like so many others, I was horrified and heartbroken to learn that a family of four froze to death in a blizzard at the Minnesota-Canada border last week. Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have since charged a man involved in the incident with violating federal laws prohibiting human smuggling. Federal authorities have said that they suspect that this case is linked to a larger smuggling operation in the area along the Canadian border.
I have long advocated for the expansion of federal anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling efforts. As a former prosecutor, I know how important it is for the federal government to closely coordinate with state and tribal law enforcement, as well as with international governments, to combat this threat and to provide resources to officials working on the front lines of the fight against smuggling and trafficking.
I appreciate the Administration’s actions to stop human smuggling and trafficking, including its creation of Operation Sentinel, a counter-network targeting operation focused on stopping the smuggling of vulnerable people across the border. At the same time, this tragic incident illustrates that there is more work to be done.
Therefore, I respectfully request responses to the questions below:
- What steps has the Department taken and what steps does it plan to take to identify those who are engaging in human smuggling along the border with Canada?
- What efforts has DHS made to coordinate with the Canadian government to identify and intercede human smuggling operations along the border between the two countries?
- What challenges has the Department faced in its attempt to stop human smuggling across the northern border and are there any legislative steps Congress can take to address those challenges?
- How has DHS coordinated and how does the Department plan to coordinate with Tribal Nations near the northern border to stop human smuggling operations along the Canadian border?
- Does DHS need additional resources to counter human smuggling operations along the border with Canada?
Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.
# # #