/

January 16, 2025

U.S. citizenship is now a focus of GOP legislators

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota lawmakers will consider several measures in the coming weeks that align with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promise to conduct mass deportations of people who are illegally living in the United States.

2 dead after drowning in Walworth County

The proposals, all from Republicans, come as Republican Gov. Kristi Noem awaits U.S. Senate confirmation as Trump’s homeland security secretary. If approved, she would be part of the incoming White House’s deportation effort. Trump received 63% of the South Dakota vote in the 2024 election.

Here’s a look at the what’s pending in the South Dakota Legislature so far this session regarding U.S. citizenship:

Republican Sen. Casey Crabtree wants to prohibit state and local governments from limiting or prohibiting an individual from communicating or cooperating with a federal agency or official to verify or report the immigration status of another individual.

His legislation would also prohibit state and local governments from granting “a noncitizen unlawfully present in the United States the right to lawful presence or status,” a practice known as providing sanctuary.

Republican Sen. John Carley wants to make it a class 5 felony crime, punishable by up five years in the state penitentiary and a $10,000 fine, for a person who’s not a U.S. citizen to vote.

Republican Sen. Amber Hulse wants to require that a motor vehicle operator’s license carry an indicator of U.S. citizenship status.

Republican Sen. Taffy Howard wants a statewide vote in 2026 on an amendment to the South Dakota Constitution clarifying that only a U.S. citizen may vote.