Renville also pointed to South Dakota's unique place in the U.S. political sphere, with Noem set to lead the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Sen. John Thune taking over the Republican Senate leader spot and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson working within a divided House of Representatives.

The department that the South Dakota governor seeks to lead will be critical to fulfilling the incoming administration’s promises to quickly crack down on immigration.

President-elect Donald J. Trump picked the South Dakota governor to head the Homeland Security Department, which includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

In 2018, an Indigenous woman identified as C.M. and her 5-year-old son crossed the U.S.-Mexico border near San Luis, Arizona, seeking asylum. C.M., a Maya Mam native to Guatemala, told the border agents who apprehended her that she was fleeing life-threatening violence.

Kristi Noem​, Trump's pick to lead the sprawling Department of Homeland Security, took questions from lawmakers on border policies and disaster relief.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem answered questions Friday by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee about border security, immigration reform and the need for tribal consultatio

President Donald Trump said Monday that he expects to put 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting on Feb. 1, while declining to flesh out his plans for taxing Chinese imports.

Noem highlighted her 2024 decision to send South Dakota National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border “when Texas asked for help and when they were being overwhelmed by an unprecedented border crisis.

Noem would be just the second South Dakotan to serve in a Presidential Cabinet position, the first being Clinton Anderson of Centerville who served as the Sec. of Agriculture under President Truman.

Friday morning was a homecoming in Club 71 in Dana J Dykhouse Stadium for Dan Jackson, who was introduced as South Dakota State football’s 22nd head coach in program history. A graphic with Jackson’s face and the message “Welcome Home” was projected on every TV inside Club 71.

President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Homeland Security secretary portrayed illegal immigration as an "invasion" and the U.S.-Mexico border as a "war zone" during a U.S. Senate confirmation on Friday where she pledged to back Trump's hard line on immigration.

Kristi Noem's time as the veritable CEO of South Dakota is drawing to a close, and the next chapter in her political story is about to be written.