More South Dakota Troopers Get Trained For Immigration Enforcement

South Dakota is expanding its partnerships with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Governor Larry Rhoden made the announcement Monday (May 18) that the state has enrolled more troopers in ICE training, increasing the number of South Dakota Highway Patrol (SDHP) troopers trained under 287(g) agreements eightfold.

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.

“My administration’s number one responsibility is keeping South Dakotans safe,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “We’ve been working hard to get illegal alien criminals off our streets, out of our prisons, 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.”

READ MORE: State Agencies Unite To Combat Growing Drought In South Dakota

Officials say the SDHP has arrested 150 "illegal alien criminals" in the past year.

The expansion will include a $165,000 federal reimbursement from the Department of Homeland Security.

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.

DOC submitted additional inmates for parole to federal custody and deportation. 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.

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. Through May 15, the SDNG has assisted directly in processing 664 illegal immigrants who have been deported out of South Dakota.

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