Noem commits to sending South Dakota National Guard troops to southern border

June 2, 2023

PIERRE, S.D.–Governor Kristi Noem has announced that she will be deploying at least 50 South Dakota National Guard troops to the southern border later this summer. Governor Noem joins a group of 12 other Republican governors who are answering the call from Texas Governor Greg Abbott to help Texas respond to the crisis at the southern border.

In a statement released Thursday, Noem said, “the border crisis is growing worse under President Biden’s willful inaction. Across the country, crime rates, drug overdoses, and human trafficking have all skyrocketed because our border remains a warzone. Our National Guard soldiers are the best prepared to tackle this challenge. They have proven that they can serve with excellence in a situation such as this, and I am confident that they will do so again.”

Two years ago, Governor Noem was the first governor to deploy National Guard troops to the southern border at the request of the governors of Texas and Arizona.