Earlier this week, acting secretary of the Army, Robert Speer ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete construction on the Dakota Access Pipeline. This directive came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 24 that would advance construction on both the Dakota Access and Keystone XL Pipelines. Of course, this order from Trump was a reversal on the stay signed by former President Obama towards the end of his term.

The advancement of the construction sparked a response from protesters from the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. They explained that Trump's order violates both the law and tribal treaties, and it would prove to be an environmental hazard. The treatment of Standing Rock protesters has been a concern for months; last fall, protesters faced water hoses and tear gas from police.

According to The Washington Post, yesterday (Friday, February 3), the federal government made an announcement that it would be sending agents from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to "help clear" Dakota Access Pipeline protesters from Standing Rock.

Acting assistant secretary of Indian affairs Michael S. Black stated that the agents sent in will provide "enforcement support" and will also close the protest camps, The Washington Post reports. The Bureau of Indian Affairs cites soil erosion that can lead to damaging flooding as the reason behind the need to remove the protesters.

In a statement, Black explained, "North Dakota Governor [Doug] Burgum, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe leadership, local law enforcement, and local landowners have all warned the public and those still camped of the dangerous spring flooding expected due to the heavy amount of snowfall the state received this winter. The closing of the camps is a matter of public health and safety, and working together at this time will allow for the safe removal of waste and debris that will impact the local environment and protection of those camped."

Incidentally, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has also passed a tribal resolution that asks protesters to leave the camp. The tribe’s chairman, David Archambault II said, "In these past few weeks at camp, I see no reflection of our earlier unity, and without unity we lose."

There are ways you can help the protesters at Standing Rock. Check out our list of five things that you can do right now to get involved.

Related: Here’s a Troubling Update About Construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline

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