SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Education Equity Coalition and South Dakota Democratic Party are speaking out against Gov. Kristi Noem’s appointment to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

CNN and Fox: Noem for Homeland Security

“Governor Noem’s appointment to Homeland Security is troubling for Indigenous communities not just in South Dakota, but across the nation,” said Sarah White, Executive Director of the South Dakota Education Equity Coalition (SDEEC) in a news release.

“Her record reflects a history of ignoring Indigenous voices, failing to meet the basic educational needs of Native students, and disregarding meaningful tribal collaboration and consultation,” White said in a release. “Indigenous communities deserve leaders who respect our sovereign rights and perspectives. We cannot afford to see this lack of accountability and dismissiveness scaled to the federal level, especially in a role as crucial as Homeland Security.”

Noem was tapped for the role by President-elect Donald Trump, reports said Tuesday.

In a news release, the coalition cited multiple reasons for their disapproval, including Noem’s banishment from the nine reservations of South Dakota.

The South Dakota Democratic Party said in a news release today that Noem “lacks the qualifications” to lead Homeland Security, which included her banishment from South Dakota tribal lands.

“She used taxpayer money to send the National Guard to the US/Mexico border for publicity stunts,” said party chair Shane Merrill in the release. “Her administration has seen constant turnover and she has eroded government transparency. Our state government is also in the middle of corruption investigations involving former state employees. These scandals show that Gov. Noem does not have what it takes to lead a federal department.”

The Republican second-term governor has repeatedly sent South Dakota National Guard troops to assist with enforcement at the Texas border and has complained that gangs are using South Dakota Indian reservations as safety zones to distribute illegal drugs brought across the U.S.-Mexico border.

The SDEEC advocates for “educational environments that honor the identities and needs of Indigenous youth,” according to its website. The group highlighted the state’s poor education numbers related to Native students.

“The 2023-2024 South Dakota State Report Card starkly highlights this trend: only 21% of Native students are proficient in English Language Arts, a decline from previous years, and a mere 13% meet proficiency standards in mathematics, far short of the state’s targets,” the release said.