South Dakota Gov. Considering Sending Razor Wire, Personnel to Texas

Facts

• South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem stated in a joint session of the state's Legislature that her administration is mulling sending razor wire and security personnel to bolster Texas security efforts to curb immigration at the US-Mexico border, amid what she characterized as an 'invasion' of America.¹
• She alleged that Mexican drug cartels are waging war against the US and have perpetrated violence in all states, further noting that she will support the Oglala Sioux Tribe in a lawsuit against the federal government to demand more law enforcement support on the Pine Ridge Reservation due to mounting crime.²
• Following her speech, South Dakota's state House and Senate adopted a resolution to affirm support for defending the border, though some South Dakota Democrats pointed out that this is a federal issue.³
• Noem said in a press conference on Thursday that the joint session was called partly to inform lawmakers that Texas may request additional help from its National Guard. Noem referenced that other states have already committed to deploying their National Guard troops to support Texas.⁴
• South Dakota has sent its National Guard troops to help Texas secure the southern border three times since 2021 — including one in response to a federal request, with the Mt. Rushmore State spending at least $1.3M to pay for these deployments. Texas has no formal obligation to reimburse border support costs, although potential reimbursement mechanisms exist such as the interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact.⁵
• This comes as Donald Trump last week urged 'all willing states' to deploy their national guard forces to help Texas 'prevent the entry of illegals' amid a mounting border standoff between Gov. Abbott and the Biden administration over border enforcement.⁶

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²FOX News, ³Washington Examiner, ⁴Argus Leader, ⁵South Dakota Searchlight and ⁶Vice.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by Newsmax. While Biden and the Democrats seek to open the Southern Border, Republican governors like Kristi Noem are standing with Texas against a literal invasion. Not only does an open border undermine American sovereignty, but it also invites and incentivizes drug cartels to continue bringing fentanyl into the US, as well as trafficking children and preying on people’s desperation. South Dakota has an obligation to protect its citizens, as the border crisis has impacted every state in the union.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by Siouxlandproud. Kristi Noem is playing politics with her latest border stunt, and now she is using the plight of the Oglala Sioux Tribe as a political weapon to increase her standing on the national stage. She only seems to care about Native American tribes when it's politically expedient, trying to appeal to the MAGA base with her harsh rhetoric on the border. Moreover, her claim that there's a local gang called the Ghost Dancers that is affiliated with cartel members in Pine Ridge is nothing but an insult to the tribe's traditions. Her disingenuous rhetoric is a dangerous game pitting some Red States against the federal government.
• Cynical narrative, as provided by Pew Research Center. The majority of Americans — both Republicans and Democrats — feel that immigrants fill jobs that most US citizens will not take. Despite the polarizing political rhetoric, America's de-industrialized economic system depends on cheap immigrant labor to function. This is not acknowledged enough in political discourse on either side when discussing potential solutions.

Predictions