Sen. John Thune, Sen. Mike Rounds and Rep. Dusty Johnson are urging the Department of Interior to address what they call a public safety crisis on reservations in South Dakota.
Last month, the president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe declared a state of emergency until Jan. 1, 2025, as a response to the growing violence on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
The state's congressional delegation issued a joint request for federal help this week. They are asking for coordinated efforts from the Department of Justice and other agencies to address the shortage of law enforcement on reservations, and work with tribal leaders to find immediate solutions.
The delegation previously sent a similar letter in June of this year.
