South Dakota’s Governor just unleashed one brutal immigration crackdown that caught Democrats off guard

The border crisis has reached every corner of America.

But one governor isn’t waiting for Washington, D.C. to act.

And South Dakota’s Governor just unleashed one brutal immigration crackdown that caught Democrats off guard.

Operation Prairie Thunder hits the ground running

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden dropped the hammer on Monday with the announcement of “Operation Prairie Thunder” – a sweeping law enforcement program designed to clean house in the Mount Rushmore State.¹

The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

While Democrats continue to pretend there’s no border crisis, Republican governors are stepping up to protect their citizens from the chaos Joe Biden and Kamala Harris unleashed on America.

Rhoden’s operation targets two major problems at once – crime in the Sioux Falls metro area and the growing illegal alien population that’s been quietly spreading across the heartland.

“We are keeping South Dakotans strong, safe, and free. When it comes to safety, one of our biggest opportunities to move the needle is right here in Sioux Falls, and that’s where Operation: Prairie Thunder comes in,” Rhoden declared during his announcement. “We are taking decisive action to hold criminals accountable and protect our communities.”²

https://twitter.com/GovLarryRhoden/status/1950555036435853434

The governor isn’t messing around with half-measures or political theater.

South Dakota teams up with ICE for maximum impact

Here’s where things get interesting – and where Democrats will start having nightmares.

Rhoden secured a partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that puts real teeth into this operation.³

The South Dakota Highway Patrol will now assist ICE with arrests of illegal aliens.

Six South Dakota National Guard soldiers have been activated specifically to handle paperwork and processing duties to help ICE manage the increased workload.

And the Department of Corrections is working directly with ICE to deport offenders and transfer violent criminals to federal custody.

“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 explained.⁴

This isn’t some symbolic gesture or press conference stunt.

This is a coordinated law enforcement operation designed to actually remove dangerous illegal aliens from American communities.

https://twitter.com/GovLarryRhoden/status/1949863123269148948

Florida shows the way forward

Down in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis is watching other states finally catch up to what he’s been doing for years.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, DeSantis revealed that Florida’s immigration enforcement efforts are happening so fast they’re overwhelming the federal government’s capacity to keep up.⁵

https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis/status/1950553014973944240

“[Polk County Sheriff] Grady Judd, when we did our update the other day, you know, he pointed out, we’re apprehending faster than DHS can hold and process,” DeSantis said.⁶

Think about that for a moment.

A single state is outperforming the entire federal bureaucracy when it comes to actually enforcing immigration law.

DeSantis noted that Florida’s initiatives are now “pointed to as the model for what DHS wants to see all around the United States of America.”⁷

The Sunshine State has even established a detention site in the Everglades – dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” – specifically to speed up the processing and deportation of illegal aliens who have final removal orders.⁸

The anti-crime component targets Sioux Falls

Operation Prairie Thunder isn’t just about immigration enforcement.

The initiative includes a serious anti-crime component focused on cleaning up the Sioux Falls metro area.⁹

https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1948829889421103299

Over the next five months, 10-15 Highway Patrol troopers will conduct monthly saturation patrols in high-crime areas.

National Guard helicopters will provide aerial support for drug interdiction and traffic enforcement operations.

DOC Parole Agents will focus on hunting down fugitives and parole absconders who think they can hide in South Dakota.

All of these efforts will work together with local crime task forces to maximize effectiveness and avoid duplication.

Federal cooperation makes the difference

The key to making this work is the 287(g) agreement that Governor Rhoden is pursuing with ICE.¹⁰

This federal program gives state and local law enforcement the authority to work directly with ICE on immigration enforcement matters.

Rhoden sent a letter of intent for this agreement to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Acting Director of ICE Todd Lyons.

Once that paperwork goes through, South Dakota law enforcement will have the federal backing they need to tackle this problem head-on.

The beauty of this approach is that it doesn’t require Congress to pass new laws or fund massive new programs.

Instead, it uses existing legal frameworks and resources more effectively.

Real leadership 

Governors like Rhoden and DeSantis are actually solving problems.

They’re not waiting for permission from Nancy Pelosi or Chuck Schumer to protect their citizens.

They’re not worried about what the mainstream media will say about their “harsh” tactics.

They’re focused on results – and the results speak for themselves.

South Dakota has traditionally been one of the safest states in the country, but even Mount Rushmore State isn’t immune to the border crisis that’s affecting every corner of America.

Rhoden understands that small problems become big problems if you ignore them.

¹ Michelle Vecerina, “South Dakota launches illegal alien crackdown as DeSantis touts Florida ‘model,’” Florida News, July 29, 2025.

² –  ¹⁰ Ibid.