Ten state prison inmates identified as illegal aliens were paroled directly into federal custody for deportation proceedings this week, Governor Larry Rhoden announced on August 13–14, 2025. The transfers, carried out under the new enforcement initiative named Operation: Prairie Thunder, move those inmates from South Dakota Department of Corrections facilities to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without releasing them into local communities.
State officials said the goal is to cut incarceration costs and reduce reoffending risks while federal authorities lead the removal process.
How the paroles and transfers were authorized
Officials said the South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles approved the paroles for the specific purpose of transfer to federal custody. The board focused on inmates who met three criteria:
- They are illegal aliens
- They are classified as low risk
- They are near the end of their sentences
Once the board approved parole, ICE took custody immediately, according to the governor’s office—preventing community release and moving the individuals straight into the federal deportation system.
State law provides the framework for the decision. The governor’s office cited SDCL 24-15A-41.1 as the authority used by the board when it granted the parole-to-ICE transfers. In practice, Operation: Prairie Thunder depends on coordination among the Department of Corrections, the parole board, and ICE.
The state portrays the approach as an efficiency measure and a public safety step, designed to speed removal of inmates whose immigration status makes them ineligible to remain in the country after their sentences.
“This is not early release into the community; it is a change in custody from state to federal authorities,” state officials said, stressing the move respects state parole law while channeling eligible inmates into the federal system as soon as state custody can lawfully end.
Governor’s stated rationale
Governor Rhoden framed the move as both fiscal and safety policy:
- Fiscal: State taxpayers should not continue to pay to house illegal alien offenders once they are eligible for parole.
- Safety: Federal partners will prevent those individuals from returning to South Dakota communities, officials said.
State officials pointed to support from federal leaders and said local law enforcement and Border Patrol agents would help ensure compliance if removals occur.
Notable case example
The group includes people convicted of a range of crimes. One named inmate is Jose Sanchez (#78283), a Mexican national convicted of multiple counts of possession of controlled substances. His case illustrates the process: parole approval for transfer, immediate ICE custody, and federal proceedings that determine if and when removal occurs.
State officials said none of the ten will be released into the general population in South Dakota as this process unfolds.
Coordinated parole-to-ICE transfers — step-by-step
Under Operation: Prairie Thunder, the steps are straightforward and tightly sequenced to limit gaps in custody:
- The South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles reviews eligible cases under
SDCL 24-15A-41.1. - When approved, the parole is conditioned on transfer to federal custody.
- ICE takes custody immediately, beginning deportation proceedings.
- The inmates do not reenter South Dakota communities during this process.
South Dakota’s use of parole-to-transfer, rather than community parole, marks a new approach in the state’s handling of noncitizen inmates near sentence completion. Officials stress that this channels eligible inmates into the federal system as soon as state custody can lawfully end.
ICE leads removal steps after the handoff. For more information on federal custody and removal operations, readers can consult ICE’s website at https://www.ice.gov. State officials emphasized that federal agents, not state parole officers, will control the next phases in each case.
Fiscal and community impact
Governor Rhoden’s office presented the plan as a way to save money for the state while also addressing safety concerns.
- Housing inmates is expensive; the state argued continuing to incarcerate individuals who are eligible for parole and face deportation shifts costs onto taxpayers with limited benefit.
- With Operation: Prairie Thunder, the state expects to reduce days in custody for these cases while relying on federal enforcement to handle final outcomes.
Public safety was the second major theme:
- By transferring custody to ICE upon parole, the state seeks to reduce the chance that individuals reoffend in South Dakota.
- Officials contend that quick movement from state prison to federal custody limits risk periods.
- Ongoing cooperation with federal agents, local police, and Border Patrol is intended to prevent returned entry into South Dakota after removal.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the decision places South Dakota in closer alignment with federal enforcement priorities and reflects a broader trend among states looking for ways to manage costs tied to incarceration of noncitizen offenders. The site noted that Operation: Prairie Thunder could become a model if early numbers show reduced prison spending and low rates of attempted return following removal.
The state also addressed language. In its communication, the administration used the term “illegal aliens,” which appears in some federal and state laws and in law enforcement communications. Community advocates often prefer other terms. State officials said their usage follows statutory language and aims for clarity in legal contexts.
What comes next
The governor’s office said Operation: Prairie Thunder will continue, with the Department of Corrections flagging additional cases that fit the criteria: illegal immigration status, low-risk classification, and proximity to sentence completion.
The process going forward:
- The South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles will evaluate each case individually under
SDCL 24-15A-41.1. - Transfers will proceed only upon board approval.
- ICE will then manage each case under federal law, including detention and immigration court proceedings.
Whether the program expands will depend on measurable results. State leaders plan to watch three areas:
- Changes in incarceration costs
- Recidivism rates connected to this group
- Local public safety outcomes
If the data show benefits and federal cooperation remains strong, officials indicated the operation could grow. If not, they may adjust course. Either way, the governor’s office said it will work closely with federal agencies to maintain secure and timely handoffs.
Families and defense attorneys seeking updates were directed to routine state channels for corrections and parole information, as well as ICE’s public information resources. The governor’s office named Josie Harms as the media contact for further questions related to the August 13 announcement.
The administration emphasized the operation is limited to inmates who meet the specific criteria set out for review. People with violent histories or who fail risk checks are unlikely to qualify for parole-to-ICE transfer. Officials said the screening is designed to target those near the end of their sentences who can be legally paroled while maintaining public safety as the first priority.
Immediate result and outlook
For now, the immediate result is clear: 10 inmates have left state prison custody and entered ICE custody under Operation: Prairie Thunder. The state says the move is meant to protect communities and save taxpayer dollars, while the federal government decides each person’s immigration outcome.
The coming months will show how this early set of transfers affects costs, case timelines, and community safety across South Dakota.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
Operation: Prairie Thunder paroled ten inmates into ICE custody August 13–14, 2025, aiming to cut incarceration costs and limit reoffending by transferring eligible, low-risk noncitizen inmates directly from state prisons to federal deportation proceedings under SDCL 24-15A-41.1.
