Latest news with #OperationPrairieThunder
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rhoden was running a state-funded campaign before Operation Prairie Thunder
Gov. Larry Rhoden speaks to reporters from a podium on July 28, 2025, at the Public Safety Administration Building in Sioux Falls. Also visible are, from left, Dan Satterlee, director of the state Division of Criminal Investigation, and Sam Olson, Minneapolis field office director for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) Election years call for politicians to do some tricky maneuvering. While an elected official will present a new initiative as a way to help constituents, opponents are likely to label it as a cynical attempt to curry favor with voters. That's where Gov. Larry Rhoden finds himself right now after the announcement of Operation Prairie Thunder. It commits the National Guard, Highway Patrol and Corrections Department to support federal immigration enforcement, and commits state troopers to saturation patrols in Sioux Falls. National Guard soldiers will help U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with administrative tasks, Highway Patrol troopers will do immigration enforcement during the regular course of their work, and Corrections Department personnel will coordinate with ICE to deport inmates in state custody who entered the country illegally. Race for South Dakota governor could be a race for Trump's favor Critics of the program have complained that Rhoden is using state resources to further his own political ambitions, even though the governor has not revealed whether he will seek election to the office he gained when Kristi Noem joined President Donald Trump's Cabinet. 'While I agree that we need to hold criminals accountable and be tough on crime, this goes too far,' said Sen. Liz Larson, a Democrat from Sioux Falls. If Democrats think Prairie Thunder is Rhoden's first attempt to use his office for political gain, they're late with their criticism. Since mid-March, the governor has been running a shadow reelection campaign through his Open for Opportunity Tour. Rhoden introduced that initiative as a continuation of Noem's Open for Business program. According to a news release from the governor's office, 'The Open for Opportunity Tour will feature Governor Rhoden visiting communities across South Dakota to highlight their economic development efforts, learn their specific needs, and work together to chase down opportunities.' In effect, Rhoden stepped into office and onto the campaign trail. The Open for Opportunity Tour is introducing business leaders to their new governor. It is also introducing the new governor to an ever-growing group of potential political donors. An unscientific search of state news releases found that since March 17 Rhoden has made 17 Open for Opportunity trips to 25 communities. From Sioux Falls to the Standing Rock Reservation, from Mud Butte to Mitchell, from Box Elder to Huron, Rhoden is getting to know the business leaders in each community as well as fattening his Rolodex. On one hand, it's refreshing to have a governor who is more interested in traveling in the state than out-of-state. Of course all of these trips are state funded, your tax dollars at work as Rhoden scores some political points. The irony here is that for all Rhoden's work currying favor with business leaders, Prairie Thunder will likely alienate some of them. Pledging to round up illegal aliens will make it tougher to fill those jobs that only immigrants are willing to tackle. While South Dakota is Open for Opportunity, one of those opportunities has been for Rhoden to run a political campaign using state funds. In essence, the governor is using an office he wasn't elected to as a means to jumpstart a campaign he hasn't announced yet. Now that's quite an opportunity. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Three states sign new agreements with ICE for expanded immigration enforcement operations
EXCLUSIVE: Three new states have signed agreements of varying intensity and substance, with one governor 1,700 miles away from Mexico saying his is effectively a "border state" due to its major fentanyl crisis. On Wednesday, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey will announce one of the most wide-ranging agreements a state has forged with ICE yet, enlisting the West Virginia State Police, Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation and National Guard to aid immigration enforcement through the "287(g)" authority heralded by President Donald Trump. West Virginia has long ranked among the states with the highest rates of drug-related deaths, a crisis that Morrisey says underscores the need to work with ICE to combat fentanyl trafficking. "Under the Biden administration, millions of people poured into our country unlawfully and we had no knowledge about who they were, or whether they were a threat to our nation," Morrisey told Fox News Digital ahead of his expected Wednesday mid-morning announcement in Parkersburg. "West Virginia became an effective 'border state' due to the massive fentanyl problem caused by illegal immigration," he said. The National Guard and state police will have "task force" authority to interrogate any person believed to be an illegal immigrant as to his right to remain in the U.S. – under the supervision or direction of the feds. Officers will be able to process immigration-related violations for those arrested for state or federal offenses, and can also make warrantless arrests of any illegal immigrant in the officer's "presence or view" if that person is believed to be a flight risk in the interim of obtaining a warrant. Morrisey also authorized state law enforcement to serve immigration warrants, administer oaths and collect evidence for "required alien processing," including fingerprints and suspect interviews. Unlike some other states, West Virginia law enforcement will also be able to issue immigration detainers, prepare documents for approval from federal ICE officers and arrest felonious aliens who have the penchant to escape. West Virginia Division of Corrections will be permitted to hold immigrants on detainer, so long as the actions fall under federal auspices. Corrections officers will be able to follow the federal "warrant officer model," which includes serving warrants for immigration violations in jails and transferring custody to the feds. Farther west, South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden recently announced cooperation with ICE to a lesser extent with his "Operation Prairie Thunder" public safety crackdown. Rhoden, who rose to the governorship upon the departure of now-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, announced earlier this month that Operation Prairie Thunder would be a "comprehensive, targeted public safety initiative" in the state – with a focus on the Sioux Falls metro area. The anti-crime effort seeks to interdict drugs, probe gang activity and "deter lawlessness." It includes a "comprehensive effort to support the work of [ICE], secure our borders and deport illegal alien criminals," according to a statement. The South Dakota Highway Patrol will be able to assist ICE, and six South Dakota National Guard soldiers will be tasked with helping the agency with administrative functions. "Our work alongside ICE boils down to this: Highway Patrol will support ICE with arrests," Rhoden said. "The National Guard will support ICE with processing and administrative functions. And DOC will support ICE with transportation, identifying illegal immigrants in our prisons, and getting them paroled to ICE custody." In Arkansas, a state law took effect this week that increases penalties for illegal immigrants committing "serious felonies involving violence," among other stipulations. The "Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act," signed by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, also allowed Arkansas sheriffs to engage with ICE. It allows law enforcement to apply via 287(g) to be authorized to serve immigration warrants on illegal immigrants already in custody for other offenses. Arkansas State Police will go beyond the minimum cooperation required by the law, according to the Arkansas Times. Cops will be able to stop people in public and ask them their immigration status – and potentially arrest suspected violators. A spokeswoman for the state police told the outlet that troopers must undergo training before any can work in an immigration-related capacity. The regimen includes a 40-hour online course laying out officers' "scope of authority, immigration law, civil rights law, cross-cultural issues, liability issues, complaint procedures and obligations under federal law," the spokeswoman said. Sanders credited Trump with making border security a top priority and obtaining results. "The Defense Against Criminal Illegals Act makes it clear: Arkansas will not tolerate violent, criminal illegals and will do our part to help the Trump administration keep our citizens safe," the former Trump press secretary said in a statement. Those states join Florida and Wyoming, the first two to sign substantive 287(g) agreements with ICE.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Map Shows States Where National Guard Deployed to Support ICE
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. At least six Republican-led states have activated or authorized National Guard troops to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in administrative and logistical roles, as part of a multi-state mission that could involve up to 1,700 Guard members through mid-November. The newest activation came on August 12, when Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced she had directed 20 Iowa National Guard soldiers to begin a Title 32 mission with ICE on September 8. The Guard members will provide administrative and logistical support to Iowa-based ICE officials through November 15, under an authorization from the Secretary of Defense. "By providing administrative and logistical support, the Iowa National Guard will free up local ICE officials to continue their work outside the office to enforce the law and keep our state safe," Reynolds said in a statement. Why It Matters The National Guard Bureau granted governors in 20 GOP-led states authority to deploy their forces under Title 32 orders to support ICE operations inside their own states. The work is intended to backfill clerical, transportation, and other non-law-enforcement duties, freeing ICE officers for field enforcement. So far, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Tennessee, Virginia, and South Dakota have moved forward. Three others—Nevada, Louisiana, and South Carolina—are in the process of approving deployments. The remaining 11 states on the authorization list have yet to commit. What To Know Florida has already put 25 Guard members on duty across nine ICE offices and said more are expected. In Idaho, up to 14 Guard members have been approved for administrative work. Tennessee has mobilized Guard personnel for detention facility support. Virginia's troops are in training and expected to deploy in early September. South Dakota has included ICE support in "Operation Prairie Thunder," assigning Guard members to processing roles. Nevada has said authorization is "in process." Louisiana plans to send about 70 Guard members by month's end. South Carolina has a request for about 40 under review. The other states with authorization but no activation are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming. Vermont has said it will not participate. This state-led mobilization is separate from a federal Title 10 deployment announced by the Pentagon in June. That mission, described by Defense Department officials as part of a broader effort to "maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States," authorizes up to 700 active-duty troops to support ICE in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Camarillo, California: Two people embrace as ICE officials block Ventura County locals from protesting a July 10 immigration raid. Federal agents used tear gas and arrested workers at Glass House Farms, a licensed cannabis grower.... Camarillo, California: Two people embrace as ICE officials block Ventura County locals from protesting a July 10 immigration raid. Federal agents used tear gas and arrested workers at Glass House Farms, a licensed cannabis grower. The next day, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass signed an order to protect immigrants, before a federal judge issued a temporary ruling barring ICE raids without specific suspicion in L.A. and six other counties. More Mario Tama/Getty Those service members, drawn from multiple branches, are assigned to ICE detention facilities and prohibited from direct contact with detainees or law enforcement duties. The deployments come amid heightened immigration enforcement activity and protests across several states. In mid-June, President Donald Trump also ordered thousands of National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles to guard federal facilities during demonstrations against ICE deportations. Texas, which has signed a separate agreement with ICE delegating certain immigration enforcement functions to trained Guard members, has defended the deployments as necessary to "uphold law and order." Critics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, have accused the administration of politicizing the Guard. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the mission "provides critical resources to support ICE's mission, freeing up law enforcement personnel to focus on law enforcement tasks and missions. The Department remains committed to securing 100% operational control of the border." What People Are Saying Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said in a statement on Tuesday: "Just as we supported Texas when the Biden Administration left them to defend the border, Iowa will continue to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws — this time, by working with the Trump Administration to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in our state." Idaho Governor Brad Little said in a statement on August 7: "As Commander in Chief, I am proud that the Idaho National Guard always stands ready to support our federal partners in any capacity that strengthens public safety and national security. Our guardsmen are trained, disciplined, and committed to serving the people of Idaho and the nation." Elizabeth Ray, a spokesperson for Nevada's governor's office, told The Nevada Independent: "Governor Lombardo is in the process of authorizing the Nevada National Guard to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a temporary, administrative capacity." What Happens Next The Title 32 authorizations expire November 15, but Pentagon officials have left open the possibility of extensions if ICE requests continued support.
New York Post
12-08-2025
- New York Post
Illegal migrant caught with $12M of crystal meth in South Dakota: officials
An illegal immigrant was arrested in South Dakota while transporting $12 million in methamphetamine — the largest single seizure of the drug in the state Highway Patrol's history, Gov. Larry Rhoden announced on Monday. The 42-year-old man, who was not identified, was pulled over during a traffic stop by South Dakota Highway Patrol while he was speeding on Interstate 90 in Sturgis, roughly 100 miles west of the Wyoming border, according to a press release from the governor's office. A 42-year-old man was arrested after South Dakota Highway Patrol found 207 pounds of crystal meth in his car. South Dakota Governors Office Advertisement Turns out, the driver was carting a staggering 207 pounds of crystal meth in his vehicle — roughly the same weight of an adult black bear. Authorities emptied out his vehicle and recovered stash, which has a street value of approximately $12 million, according to the release. The suspect was 'found to be a non-citizen and is now in immigration proceedings,' according to the release. His country of origin and where he was detained is unclear. Advertisement The drug bust was part of the governor's Operation Prairie Thunder, which allows law enforcement in the state to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 'We are taking action to protect the people of South Dakota from criminals and drug traffickers. Our Highway Patrol showed incredible professionalism in achieving this record drug bust,' Roden said. The man, who authorities determined wasn't a US citizen, was sent to immigration proceedings. South Dakota Highway Patrol Facebook 'I promised that my administration would keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free – and we will continue to deliver on that promise through Operation: Prairie Thunder.' Advertisement In early 2025, Roden also entered into an agreement with ICE that gave the state's Highway Patrol officers the ability to 'perform certain immigration enforcement functions,' including the power to arrest without a warrant. The 287(g) Task Force agreements were discontinued under the Obama and Biden administrations, but reintroduced by President Trump on the day of his inauguration. As of May 2025, 40 states have at least one active 287(g) Task Force agreement in place, according to ICE. Other agencies involved in the investigation include the Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Meade County Sheriff's Office and Rapid City Police Department, according to the release.
