In the midst of the 2024 beefsteaks race, several up-and-coming Republicans are expressing their willingness to serve on former President Donald Trump's ticket. Among them is South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who recently returned from a trip to the southern border, describing it as a war zone.
Governor Noem, along with two dozen other Republican governors, penned a letter expressing solidarity with Texas and urging the state to employ all available tools and strategies, including razor wire fences, to secure the border. Many interpreted this as a call for Texas to defy the Supreme Court and prevent federal agents from removing the razor wire.
Governor Noem believes that Texas should indeed stand their ground and enforce their state law while asserting their constitutional rights to protect their state sovereignty. She notes that Democrats were threatening to mobilize the President's authority to activate the National Guard in order to impede state protection efforts. Governor Noem expressed her pride in standing with Texas and highlighted her own deployment of the South Dakota National Guard to the southern border on three separate occasions.
Characterizing the border situation as a dangerous and inhumane war zone, Governor Noem cited instances of suffering women, drug trafficking, and human trafficking resulting from the open border policies. She emphasized the need for immediate action, calling for the reinstatement of the stay in Mexico policy and a renewed focus on border wall construction to address these pressing issues.
When questioned about the potential for violence between state forces, National Guard troops, Texas forces, and federal agents, Governor Noem expressed her concern. She emphasized her responsibility as commander-in-chief of the South Dakota National Guard to assess the long-term effects of decisions and hinted at potential legal actions by governors to protect their states.
Moving on to the congressional responses to the border crisis, Governor Noem criticized President Biden's stance and urged him to take immediate action, pointing out that existing federal laws grant him the authority to protect the country and halt the flow of drugs and human trafficking. She questioned the efficacy of relying solely on Congress to pass immigration reform, given their prolonged failure to do so in the past.
In response to a bipartisan deal being negotiated in the Senate, Governor Noem expressed her skepticism, highlighting the need for President Biden to take unilateral action and demonstrate his commitment to fixing the broken immigration system. She argued that if the President showed good faith in changing policies and reallocating resources to prioritize border security, Republicans would be willing to collaborate on comprehensive immigration reform.
Governor Noem further criticized President Biden for purportedly tying the hands of federal agents and impeding their ability to do their jobs effectively, according to conversations she had with individuals working within the administration.
Overall, Governor Noem's visit to the border and subsequent statements reflect her strong stance on border security and immigration policy, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action.
