Gov. Rhoden and Colleagues Urge Congress to Enact Secure America Act

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 2, 2026

Contact: Josie Harms

Gov. Rhoden and Colleagues Urge Congress to Enact Secure America Act

PIERRE, S.D. - Today, Governor Larry Rhoden and 22 fellow Republican governors called on Congress to enact The Secure America Act to provide sustained funding to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). You can find the statement here.

"Under President Trump's leadership, and thanks to the tireless efforts of CBP and ICE, America has the most secure border in our Nation's history," wrote Governor Larry Rhoden and his colleagues. "However, for months, Senate Democrats have refused to fund CBP and ICE, using the brave and selfless men and women of CBP and ICE as pawns and collateral damage to their political cause."

Governor Rhoden's Administration has played a key role in supporting the efforts of ICE, keeping our state and nation strong, safe, and free. In addition to continuing a National Guard deployment supporting ICE, he announced that his Administration is expanding on its partnerships with ICE by training additional South Dakota Highway Patrol troopers under 287(g) agreements and submitting additional Department of Corrections inmates for parole to federal custody and deportation.

"No longer are human traffickers, drug traffickers, and violent criminals taking advantage of an open border to hurt innocent people and American communities," continued Governor Larry Rhoden and his colleagues. "As governors, we the undersigned urge Republicans in Congress to fund CBP and ICE for the remainder of President Trump's term in office, and to do so without delay."

Governor Rhoden was joined in the statement by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Indiana Governor Mike Braun, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, South Carolina Governor Henry Dargan McMaster, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.

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