Noem deploying troops from South Dakota to border ‘warzone’
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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem joined a list of Republican state leaders who have said they will deploy troops to the country’s southern border, which she called a “warzone” in a post announcing the move.
“The border is a warzone, so we’re sending soldiers,” Noem posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “The SD-Guard’s primary mission will be construction of a wall to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, drug cartels, and human trafficking into the United States of America.”
In a statement released Tuesday, Noem said 60 South Dakota soldiers will be deployed to Texas in the spring on a rolling basis “over a three-month period.” She said the deployment “answers the call” from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R).
Abbott and the Texas National Guard appear to have continued building razor wire barriers along the southern border, defying a Supreme Court decision and causing tensions around the developing situation to rise.
Republican governors across the country are backing Abbott in his standoff against the federal government, and many have shown support by sending troops to the border to support his own.
Noem delivered remarks on the U.S.-Mexico border earlier this month and was subsequently banned from a South Dakota tribe over allegations that she was using the speech as a stunt to help former President Trump get reelected.
In an address last month to the South Dakota Legislature, Noem said that in the past, when she sent troops to assist in border security efforts, South Dakota troops were “hampered by federal restrictions” and said this time she will make sure it is different — to ensure soldiers would not “facilitate an invasion” but rather “stand up and stop it.”
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The federal government claimed in court filings that the Texas National Guard has physically prevented the Border Patrol from doing its job. Abbott has justified his decision to disregard the court’s ruling by claiming his authority to combat an “invasion” of the state “supersedes” federal law.
The action has sparked calls from Democrats for President Biden to nationalize the Texas National Guard and force them to follow the court’s decision.
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