Ten South Dakota inmates transferred to ICE for deportation

Men were paroled to the federal government as part of Operation: Prairie Thunder

Ten inmates identified as being in the country illegally will be transferred from South Dakota prison custody to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation, Gov. Larry Rhoden announced Wednesday.

The South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles approved the parole transfers as part of Operation: Prairie Thunder, a state initiative aimed at targeting crime and supporting federal immigration enforcement.

“South Dakota taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for illegal alien criminals,” Rhoden said. “This cooperation between DOC and ICE is uncharted and takes a bit of extra coordination, so I appreciate the Parole Board’s swift action to get illegal alien criminals out of our custody and out of our country. I trust President Trump, Secretary Noem, and the hard-working law enforcement agents of Border Patrol and ICE to keep these individuals from returning to our communities.”