Stronger Border Security
Border security is an essential part of national security. Every member of Congress, Republican and Democrat, should take our responsibility seriously to protect our nation by ensuring that our borders are secure. When our borders are not sufficiently secure, or there’s no accountability for those who break our laws, it only encourages continued illegal immigration. A porous border leaves us susceptible to illegal entry by gang members, human traffickers, drug dealers, and weapons traffickers. I have seen the crisis on our southern border firsthand, and I support strong immigration enforcement policies and ending this humanitarian crisis that has overwhelmed our resources at the border. As part of the solution, we must invest in our border, stop asylum abuse, and crack down on the traffickers and cartels that prey on migrants.
In 2025, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act made a historic investment in border security, providing $170 billion for funding for the border wall, hiring thousands of border personnel, and installing new technologies for border surveillance, among other investments. In June 2026, the Secure America Act secured an additional $70 billion to fund immigration enforcement through the remainder of the Trump administration, denying the opportunity for partisan tactics to shut down these critical law enforcement and homeland security missions.
Improving the Immigration System
In many ways, immigration has helped build this country. I strongly support making sure that the United States continues to offer a chance for individuals to achieve their dream of a better life and help them positively contribute to our nation. I also support temporary worker programs, like the H-2B visa program, which allows individuals from other countries to come to the United States for a limited time to work before returning to their home countries. This is a critical program that supplements our domestic workforce and enables South Dakota businesses, like those in the tourism industry, to handle peak seasonal demand.