() With a new initiative aimed at curbing crime and illegal immigration, South Dakota is deploying state troopers, helicopters and National Guard soldiers to target gangs, drug crimes and migrants in the U.S. illegally in the Sioux Falls metro area.
Dubbed “Operation Prairie Thunder,” the initiative is set to be South Dakota’s most aggressive crackdown on crime and illegal immigration to date.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden announced the pilot project Monday, calling it “a comprehensive, targeted public safety initiative to protect South Dakotans.”
Troops, helicopters and agents mobilized
The operation has two main goals: to support the efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to crack down on crime in Sioux Falls.
Over the next five months, between 10 and 15 state troopers will conduct saturation patrols, targeting drugs, gang activity and parole violators in the metro area. Aerial enforcement will also include Lakota helicopters and a Highway Patrol airplane to help with drug interdiction and traffic enforcement.
The Department of Corrections’ parole agents and the Absconder Apprehension Unit will target fugitives and parole violators. The state has already flagged at least 10 inmates for possible parole to ICE, mostly nonviolent offenders near the end of their sentences.
National Guard and DOC to support ICE
Six National Guard soldiers will be activated to assist ICE directly with processing and administrative work related to deportations. The Department of Corrections will also assist ICE with the processing and transportation of people who immigrated illegally.
“ICE has asked for help in this area, and South Dakota is stepping up and stepping in to meet this need,” Rhoden said.
The state prison system formally expressed interest in signing a 287(g) agreement with ICE. Earlier this year, the South Dakota Highway Patrol and Division of Criminal Investigation signed similar agreements, according to the South Dakota Searchlight.
“Our work alongside ICE boils down to this: Highway Patrol will support ICE with arrests. 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,” Rhoden said.
A growing trend in immigration enforcement
As of this week, ICE has signed 867 active 287(g) agreements across 40 states, with 19 more pending.
States located far from the southern border, like Arkansas, Louisiana and South Dakota, have applied for 287(g) agreements, signaling a growing national trend.
The 287(g) program, introduced by President Donald Trump in an executive order, expands a decades-old immigration policy. It authorizes ICE to delegate certain immigration enforcement powers to state and local law enforcement under ICE’s direction and oversight.
