South Dakota Governor Banned From Reservation After Remarks on Border

A South Dakota tribe has banned Governor Kristi Noem from its reservation after she made remarks about the U.S.-Mexico border last week. The Oglala Sioux Tribe’s leader, Frank Star Comes Out, suggested that Noem’s comments were politically motivated, aimed at helping former President Trump’s bid for the White House.

Noem spoke to South Dakota’s state Legislature last week, stating that she is considering sending more state resources to Texas due to the influx of migrants at the border. She also placed blame on President Biden for the situation at the border, a claim that Star Comes Out believes is politically driven.

Star Comes Out, in a letter addressed to Noem, expressed his concerns about using the border issue for political gain. He also disagreed with Noem’s suggestion to send more South Dakota National Guard troops and resources to Texas, stating that it is not an invasion and the Oglala Sioux Tribe does not support such claims.

The tribal leader emphasized that many of the migrants crossing into the United States are seeking employment and a better life, and they should not be dehumanized or mistreated. He criticized the use of razor wire, proposed by Noem, as well as the practice of separating families, which occurred during the Trump Administration.

Noem responded to Star Comes Out’s banishment, stating that she had focused on the devastating impact of drugs and human trafficking on the state and its people. She defended her comments, asserting that the tribal reservations are among the most affected communities by these issues and that speaking about this fact is not meant to blame the tribes but to highlight the consequences of cartel-driven criminal activity and federal government inaction.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe banishing Noem brings attention to the ongoing debate surrounding the U.S.-Mexico border and how it is being politicized. The impact of migrants and issues such as drugs and human trafficking on tribal reservations is being addressed by state leaders like Noem and tribal leaders like Star Comes Out, who offer differing perspectives on how to tackle these issues.