Private Donor Funds South Dakota’s National Guard Deployment to Border: Governor’s Office

In this screenshot from the RNC’s livestream of the 2020 Republican National Convention, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem addresses the virtual convention on Aug. 26, 2020. Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said on June 29 that she will use a donation to help fund the deployment of National Guard troops who are being sent to the U.S.–Mexico border following a request from the governors of Texas and Arizona for immigration assistance.

Noem joined several Republican governors, including Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, in sending troops to the border. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, both Republicans, made a request in a letter sent to all other governors seeking assistance at the country’s southern border amid a spike in illegal immigrants crossing the border.