South Dakota
South Dakota expands ICE partnership to boost deportations, save money
Gov Rhoden Smithfield interview
Gov. Rhoden, alongside economic development commissioner Bill Even, answers questions on the Smithfield move and what’s next. Watch the full interview here.
- South Dakota is expanding its partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- The state has increased the number of ICE-trained highway patrol troopers from five to a planned 41.
- The Department of Corrections has paroled 24 inmates directly to ICE for deportation.
On Monday, Gov. Larry Rhoden announced that his administration is expanding on its partnerships with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of the public safety efforts announced last July.
“My administration’s number one responsibility is keeping South Dakotans safe,” said Rhoden in a release. “We’ve been working hard to get illegal alien criminals off our streets, out of our prison, and out of our country. I am proud of the results our officers have delivered – they are keeping our state strong, safe and free for generations to come – and now there’s more work to do.”
The South Dakota Highway Patrol has enrolled more troopers in ICE training, Rhoden’s release stated, increasing the number of troopers trained eight-fold. Originally, five troopers were trained in July 2025, and 17 troopers are currently trained. With this third addition in force, that number will increase to 41 troopers.
“This partnership is showing strong results,” said Secretary of Public Safety Bob Perry in a release. “In the last twelve months the SD Highway Patrol has conducted 150 arrests of illegal alien criminals.”
The expansion is also supported by the Department of Homeland Security. South Dakota is anticipating a federal reimbursement of approximately $165,000, according to Rhoden’s release.
The Department of Corrections (DOC) and the South Dakota National Guard (SDNG) have continued to work with ICE as part of two other components of this state-federal partnership, the release stated.
The DOC submitted additional inmates for parole to federal custody and deportation, according to the release. So far, 24 inmates have been paroled directly to ICE custody. DOC and ICE have identified an additional 14 inmates who will be considered for federal custody and deportation. Getting these undocumented immigrants out of the state prison system saves South Dakota taxpayers an average of $34,000 in annual cost per inmate, the administration said.
DOC is also implementing enhanced training of officers to serve warrants and assist ICE with deportations.
The SDNG deployment of seven guardsmen has continued since last fall. These active-duty soldiers in Sioux Falls and Rapid City are helping process deportations, acting as a force multiplier for South Dakota ICE officers, Rhoden’s office stated in the release. Through May 15, the SDNG has assisted directly in processing 664 illegal immigrants who have been deported out of South Dakota.