Klobuchar questions what’s being done about human smuggling

Following the deaths of four people near the Minnesota-Manitoba border, Sen. Amy Klobuchar is asking federal officials to explain what they’re doing to combat human smuggling.

Federal prosecutors say the four who died were among 11 people from India who a human smuggler was planning to pick up after they walked across the international border from Manitoba to Minnesota. 47-year-old Steve Shand is charged with transport or attempted transport of illegal immigrants.

"This tragic incident illustrates that there is more work to be done," Klobuchar said in a letter to the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday.

Klobuchar asked DHS to explain what steps it plans to take to identify people engaging in human smuggling along the Canadian border, as well as how DHS coordinate with Canadian authorities and tribal nations near the border.

"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," Klobuchar wrote.

She also asked what legislative steps Congress can take to help the department and whether it needs additional resources.

EARLIER COVERAGE:

• Human smuggling suspect from Florida released without bond
• Four found dead near Minn. border; man charged with human smuggling
• Border Patrol weighs in on tragic smuggling incident