South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been barred from visiting some parts of her home state after making controversial comments linking tribal leaders to drug cartels. Three tribes, including the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Oglala Sioux Tribe, and the Cheyenne River Sioux, have voted to legally ban Noem from entering their lands. Noem claimed during community forums that tribal leaders were more focused on profiting from cartels than parenting their children on reservations, sparking outrage among the tribes.
Tribal leaders have demanded an apology from Noem for her comments, but she has not apologized. Instead, she issued a statement urging tribes to banish drug cartels from their lands. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council criticized Noem’s remarks, calling them uninformed and unsubstantiated. They called on Noem to work with tribal leaders to increase funding and resources for tribal law enforcement and education, rather than making baseless claims.
Noem’s office argued that banning her from certain parts of South Dakota will not solve the issues she was addressing in her comments at the community forums. They maintained that banning Noem does nothing to address the problem and called on tribal leaders to work together to address the issue of drug cartels on tribal lands. Noem has been vocal about border security and Mexican cartels in recent public comments, even describing the influx of migrants at the Southern border as an “invasion.”
The controversial comments from Noem have fueled speculation that she may be positioning herself as a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump. Trump has made border security and reducing illegal migration a central focus of his political platform. Noem has expressed willingness to send state personnel and razor wire to the US-Mexico border in Texas to support efforts to curb illegal immigration. This aggressive stance on border security aligns with Trump’s stance on the issue and may enhance her chances of being considered as a potential running mate.
In response to the shortage of tribal law enforcement officers and the impact of drug cartels on tribal communities, Noem and South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced a new certification program aimed at quickly training more tribal law enforcement officers. The program is intended to address the urgent need for more officers in tribal communities and alleviate the suffering caused by drug cartel activities. Noem’s efforts to support tribal law enforcement and address the challenges faced by tribal communities demonstrate her commitment to strengthening law enforcement and protecting South Dakota’s reservations.
