State senator aims to prevent possibility of sanctuary cities in South Dakota

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – South Dakota’s legislative research council has posted over twenty bills filed for the 2025 legislative session.

One of these bills focuses on getting ahead on immigration policy in the state.

Senate Bill 7 aims to proactively snuff out any sanctuary city policies in the state of South Dakota.

Currently South Dakota does not have any cities that are considered sanctuary cities, nor has there been a notable attempt to establish one.

“South Dakota is not a sanctuary state, and we shouldn’t have sanctuary cities inside South Dakota when it comes to immigration policies,” Sen. Casey Crabtree (R) Madison said.

This means that South Dakota local law enforcement must comply with all federal immigration laws and cooperate with federal immigration authorities when requested.

Senator Casey Crabtree, the prime sponsor of this bill says it’s designed to fall in line with President Elect Donald Trump’s immigration policies

“This bill makes sure we are in line with what they are trying to do as we secure our southern borders and make our communities safe,” Crabtree said.

South Dakota would join over a dozen states, including neighboring states Montana and Iowa, that have banned sanctuary city policies from their state.

“It’s about making sure we are keeping our communities safe overall…and we want to make sure we don’t have issues with this as we go into the next four years,” Crabtree insisted.

Crabtree says he expects many of his republican colleagues to join him in his effort to pass this bill.

So far, the bill already has 11 other lawmakers that have attached their names as a sponsor.

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