Noem Blasts Democrats’ ‘Compassion’ on Border Policy, Defends Federal Immigration Officers in Nogales

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem visited Nogales, Arizona, on Wednesday to sharply criticize Democratic immigration policies, arguing the political left has redefined “compassion” while leaving American communities to confront crime, disorder and lawlessness.

Speaking in front of the southern border wall, Noem framed her remarks as a critique of what she described as Biden-era policies that, in her view, have weakened border security and endangered communities and migrants alike.

“The Democrats on the left say that compassion was that invasion, was that humanitarian crisis,” Noem said. “But President [Donald] Trump says that compassion is taking care of people. Was it compassionate to make Americans share their communities with criminals? Was it compassionate to encourage men and women and children to break the law and to put their lives at risk, knowing that they could be victimized along the way?”

Noem’s remarks followed weeks of unrest tied to anti-immigration-enforcement protests after federal agents fatally shot Minneapolis residents Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. Those incidents prompted renewed debate over federal enforcement tactics and sparked calls in some cities for ICE and other federal immigration operations to scale back.

Anti-ICE agitators confront U.S. Border Patrol agents at a gas station, Jan. 21, in Minneapolis.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have publicly criticized the federal response, accusing authorities of violating constitutional rights and arguing that the Justice Department has been misused; they have called for ICE to leave the state.

Noem also defended federal immigration officers and questioned what she called a growing tendency to demonize law enforcement personnel who carry out immigration laws.

“Was it compassionate to demonize those federal law enforcement officers that took an oath to uphold the law and to keep Americans safe?” she asked. “Democrats dare to harass, threaten and dox our officers, assault the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security… and they try to say that enforcing our immigration laws and arresting and deporting illegal criminals and violent criminals is inhumane. Well, what about the victims of those illegal crimes?”

She closed by reiterating support for stricter border enforcement and saying voters had chosen a different direction at the ballot box.

“The beauty of our republic is that our people have the freedom to choose. When they elected President Trump, they chose differently. They chose someone who recognized that a country with no border is no country at all. A country that doesn't enforce its laws is a lawless country,” Noem said. “They rejected it and its lawlessness and chose to return to law and order… We've got a promise of a bright future and a promise of an amazing country for years to come.”

Noem, a prominent Republican and ally of former President Trump, used the Nogales visit to press for continued enforcement measures and to draw attention to clashes between federal immigration agents and local officials and protesters. Her comments further underscore the political polarization around immigration enforcement and the ongoing debates over federal authority, civil liberties and public safety.