South Dakota
Hiding in plain sight: Labor trafficking in South Dakota
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – While there have been conversations in our area about concerns over sex trafficking, there is another type of human trafficking that is also a growing concern, and that is labor trafficking.
“It could be the person who’s your next-door neighbor. It could be someone you run into at the grocery store,” said Call to Freedom Bilingual Case Manager Brandon Lainez.
A victim of labor trafficking could be hiding in plain sight, on the farm, the construction site, or in a local restaurant.
“That server, for example, is only making tips,” said Naomi Project Director Jordan Bruxvoort.
Labor trafficking often begins with a recruiter preying on a vulnerable prospect in their home country.
“They are looking for people who don’t have a fallback,” Jordan said.
The promises fall flat once the victim is stateside, often on a guest worker visa. Jordan Bruxvoort of the Naomi project has heard the stories firsthand.
“Employer will change the terms of the contract, and then, when the worker speaks up, threaten to send that person back to their home country,” Jordan explained.
The same accounts are shared with case managers like Brandon Lainez at Call To Freedom.
“Through domestic servitude, whether that be through beatings, not getting paid, false promises, terrible housing, sometimes very horrible conditions,” Brandon said.
Imagine the pressure of entrapment while arriving in a new country.
“Having to make weekly payments under the threat that if they don’t make these weekly payments, their family in their home country will be killed,” Jordan said.
Labor trafficking does happen in South Dakota. A Sioux Falls restaurant cited earlier this year.
“In a federal labor trafficking conviction. It was the first federal labor trafficking conviction that we’re aware of in South Dakota in more than 15 years,” Jordan explained.
Those victimizing their employees take all they can.
“I want to point out that labor trafficking and sex trafficking sometimes can go hand in hand. Bad actors who traffic individuals will do it in all kinds of ways,” said Latesha Love-Grayer with the Government Accountability Office.
Bruxvoort has ideas for solutions.
“Go from a complaint-based reactive approach to a kind of culture shift prevention approach,” Jordan said.
Educating employees in targeted jobs can be empowering. Currently, guest worker visas only allow employees to work for the one job they applied for the visa. Immigration reform could provide a victim the leverage to change.
“It’s really up to us and to our elected representatives to take action, given the enormous amount of documentation about how much trafficking has occurred under the H-2A and H-2b guest worker visa program,” Jordan said.
In extreme labor trafficking situations, help is available now.
“Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, people who are the victim of a severe form of trafficking can move forward and apply for a special visa called the T trafficking visa,” Jordan explained.
If you see an employee being kept away from customers, working long hours, or living in housing controlled by their employer, organizations like the Naomi Project, Call to Freedom and the local office of the Department of Homeland Security can help.
“We’re really hoping that Sioux Falls becomes the model for eradicating human trafficking from the formal economy,” Jordan said.
The Naomi Project also offers labor trafficking identification training to employees in the restaurant and construction industry. In turn, the business can show participation in the anti-labor trafficking campaign.
There is also a responsible sourcing tool, where you can review your business or workplace to see if there are additional ways to protect against labor trafficking.
You can find the sourcing tool here.
Copyright 2024 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 22, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from April 22 drawing
24-29-32-49-63, Powerball: 11, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lotto America numbers from April 22 drawing
15-20-32-46-48, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 03
Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Dakota Cash numbers from April 22 drawing
05-06-09-14-32
Check Dakota Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 22 drawing
17-26-43-44-53, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
The University of South Dakota announced on Wednesday, April 22, that Athletic Director Jon Schemmel has received a five-year contract extension running through the 2030-31 academic year.
Schemmel has been in his position since January 2024 and was South Dakota’s senior associate athletic director for development from 2012-2017.
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“The University of South Dakota and Vermillion community is where our family wants to be,” Schemmel said in a press release. “I am humbled and grateful for the continued trust from President (Sheila) Gestring and the South Dakota Board of Regents to continue leading this athletics program. Coyote Nation has the best fans and donors, and we have a group of coaches, staff and student-athletes who are committed to competing for championships and continuing their excellence in the classroom and community.”
The athletics department has raised $49 million since Schemmel took over as AD, including $35 million in the 2025-26 academic year.
The Coyotes have won a Missouri Valley Football Conference championship and Summit League volleyball and men’s indoor track and field titles with Schemmel at the helm.
“USD’s athletic programs continue to thrive under Jon’s leadership,” Gestring said. “His knowledge of Division I athletics, forward-thinking vision for our teams and strength in fundraising have all been assets to our university. Our program is in great hands, and I am looking forward to seeing what Jon, his staff and our student-athletes achieve in the next five years.”
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota extends AD Jon Schemmel through 2030-31 academic year
The South Dakota Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 21, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from April 21 drawing
01-36-43-56-58, Mega Ball: 07
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 21 drawing
01-04-40-47-58, Bonus: 04
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes of $100 or less: Can be claimed at any South Dakota Lottery retailer.
- Prizes of $101 or more: Must be claimed from the Lottery. By mail, send a claim form and a signed winning ticket to the Lottery at 711 E. Wells Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501.
- Any jackpot-winning ticket for Dakota Cash or Lotto America, top prize-winning ticket for Lucky for Life, or for the second prizes for Powerball and Mega Millions must be presented in person at a Lottery office. A jackpot-winning Powerball or Mega Millions ticket must be presented in person at the Lottery office in Pierre.
When are the South Dakota Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Dakota Cash: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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