UPDATE (6/29/21 @ 4:00 p.m.): SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says she will use a donation from a Republican donor to fund a deployment of up to 50 South Dakota National Guard troops to the U.S. border with Mexico. Noem joins a growing list of Republican governors sending law enforcement officers to Texas.
Noem’s spokesman says private funding for the deployment will alleviate taxpayer costs. But Democratic state Sen. Reynold Nesiba warns that it sets a dangerous precedent. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he has authorized a 90-day deployment of up to 40 National Guard troops to the border. His office says that deployment is not privately funded.
UPDATE (6/29/21 @ 8:30 a.m.): Governor Noem officially announced Tuesday morning that up to 50 South Dakota National Guard members will deploy to Texas for anywhere between 30 and 60 days.
South Dakota Adjutant General Jeff Marlette and the South Dakota Department of the Military will work with counterparts in Texas on the details.
Noem’s office says the deployment will be paid for by a private donation.
Specific names of units, number of members, and mission specifics will not be released to protect operational security.
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem posted on Twitter Monday night her intent to send National Guard troops to the Texas to secure the U.S. southern border.
Noem’s announcement means South Dakota National Guard troops will join state patrol troopers from Nebraska, Texas National Guard, and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers along the southern border. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has also sent National Guard personnel to the Arizona-Mexico border.
“It’s become evidently clear that Arizona needs the National Guard, and the White House is aware of that. Yet, to this day, there has been no action from this administration, and it doesn’t look like they are going to act any time soon,” Gov. Ducey said in a statement back in late April. “If this administration isn’t going to do anything, then we will.”
Gov. Noem did not specify from which units National Guard troops would be deployed.
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