South Dakota Governor Banned from Pine Ridge Reservation After Controversial Comments on U.S.-Mexico Border
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has found herself in hot water after making controversial comments about bolstering security at the U.S.-Mexico border. As a result, she has been banned from the Pine Ridge Reservation, a move that has sparked further debate and controversy.
The issue started when Governor Noem expressed her support for sending razor wire and security personnel to Texas in order to protect the southern border. She claimed that cartels were infiltrating the state’s reservations, including Pine Ridge Reservation. However, Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out quickly responded to her remarks, stating that she was no longer welcome on their homelands.
In a statement on social media, Star Comes Out emphasized the importance of the safety of their people, known as the Oyate, and announced Noem’s banishment from the reservation. He accused the governor of using the border issue as a means to gain favor with former President Trump and boost her chances of becoming his choice for vice president.
Star Comes Out further criticized Noem for dehumanizing and mistreating individuals who come to the southern border in search of jobs and a better life. He argued that many of these individuals are indigenous people from countries like El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. He condemned Texas Governor Greg Abbott and his cohorts for their treatment of these individuals, stating that they did not deserve to be put in cages or separated from their children.
Additionally, Star Comes Out took offense to Noem’s comments about the “Ghost Dancers,” a sacred indigenous ceremony. He accused her of using the term with blatant disrespect and insulting the Oyate.
Noem made these comments last Wednesday during a speech to the legislature where she expressed her concerns about the conditions at the border. She labeled Mexican drug cartels as the common enemy of all 50 states and claimed that they were perpetuating violence, even in South Dakota.
In response to Star Comes Out’s banishment and criticisms, Governor Noem expressed her disappointment that politics had been brought into the discussion. She argued that the focus should be on addressing the federal government’s failures to enforce laws at the border and on tribal lands. Noem emphasized her willingness to work with Native American tribes to build relationships and find solutions to these issues.
This is not the first time Governor Noem has been involved in border-related controversies. In 2021, she faced backlash for accepting a $1 million donation from a wealthy Republican donor to cover the cost of deploying National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Noem’s banishment from Pine Ridge Reservation highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration and border security in the United States. It raises questions about the role of state governors in shaping immigration policy and the treatment of indigenous communities.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Noem’s banishment will impact her political career and the relationship between the state government and Native American tribes in South Dakota.