OPERATION: PRAIRIE THUNDER
DEMAND ANSWERS
What is going on?
"Operation: Prairie Thunder" is a state-led policing surge that brings ICE and militarized patrols into Sioux Falls, despite falling crime rates.
what we need
Sioux Falls deserves safety rooted in trust, transparency, and due process. “Operation: Prairie Thunder” brings twice-monthly saturation patrols, aerial surveillance, and state support for ICE, despite the Mayor’s own claim that violent and property crime are at a five-year low. This site organizes what we know, what we don’t, and what our leaders must do to regain the trust of their constituents.
what we know about 'Prairie thunder'
Twice-monthly saturation patrols in/around Sioux Falls with 10-15 extra state troopers.Aerial assets (Lakota helicopters / Highway Patrol airplane) may be deployed.Six SD National Guard members are assigned to ICE administrative work.SD DOC is pursuing a 287(g) agreement and transport for ICE.No cost estimate from the State when announcing the plan.The Mayor has touted five-year lows in violent and property crime per capita.
what we don't know, but should
Scope & Rules: Will MOUs (Memorandums of Understanding), operational playbooks, and clear exit criteria governing Prairie Thunder activities inside Sioux Falls city limits be published?Stop & Search Data: Will the City create a monthly public dashboard of stop/search data, including perceived race/ethnicity, locations, reasons, and outcomes?Warrants: Will the City require a judicially issued warrant (not ICE administrative paperwork) for any detainer, home entry, or disclosure of nonpublic city data?Aerial Policy: What are the written limits for aerial surveillance over neighborhoods and protests, and what are the retention and audit rules for any imagery collected?Information-sharing: Which city systems (RMS/CAD, ALPRs, jail records, libraries, clinics) are fully firewalled from ICE, and will the City publish access logs showing who accessed what and when?Cost & Liability: What is the full cost to Sioux Falls - including overtime, court processing, and potential civil rights liability - and who will pay it?Safe Spaces: Will the City issue written policies designating schools, hospitals, places of worship, and courthouses as off-limits for civil immigration enforcement?Independent Oversight: Will the City establish an independent community oversight board with investigatory/subpoena power to review complaints, footage, and datasets related to Prairie Thunder?
what we know about ICE
A DHS Inspector General report found non-compliance at an ICE detention facility in New York, including an inappropriate use of force, failure to answer grievances, comingling of detainees, and medical staffing gaps (June 3, 2025).Courts and watchdogs are intervening against ICE tactics: a California judge issued a restraining order halting “roving” LA raids after a 36-day crackdown upended daily life and raised due-process concerns (July 11, 2025).Civil-rights groups sued over “unlawful” courthouse arrests. New York’s Attorney General filed a brief calling the policy “dangerous and unlawful” (July–Aug. 2025).Documented wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens during 2025 ICE operations include:
– Andrea Velez (Los Angeles), a citizen detained downtown; family and video describe excessive force (June 2025).
– Barbara Stone (San Diego), a 71-year-old court observer handcuffed and held for hours (July 2025).
– Heidi Plummer (Santa Ana), an attorney and U.S. citizen detained during a park raid (June 2025).
• A federal judge blocked a deportation attempt after ICE wrongfully deported a protected man earlier this year, citing due-process violations in the case of Kilmar Ábrego García (Aug. 25, 2025).Courts have held that ICE actions can violate the Fourth Amendment. For example, forcible home entries without a judicial warrant unless a narrow exception applies; a June 2025 Congressional Research Service brief summarizes these rulings.Impersonators & masked tactics: Non-ICE individuals have posed as ICE agents to assault, rob, or sexually attack people. PBS reported recent arrests of impostors; The Guardian documented widespread impersonations; and U.S. lawmakers urged DHS to require clear identification to curb criminal impersonators (July–Aug. 2025).
WHAT WE CAN DO
to protect ourselves and our neighbors
1. Protect Our Rights (and Each Other)
Take a constitutional observer training course from South Dakota Voices for Peace or ACLU of South Dakota.2. Demand Transparency from City Hall
Email or call the City and attend City Council meetings to tell them you expect answers to these questions:- Will you publish all MOUs/playbooks and the exit criteria for Prairie Thunder inside city limits?- Will you require a judicial warrant (not ICE admin forms) for any detainer, home entry, or data disclosure?- Will you disclose all costs related to the enforcement of this program, including overtime, court burdens, and civil rights liability?3. Show Up For Your Neighbors
Volunteer for and donate to immigrant-centered and -led groups and legal aid funds.
Get involved with your local mutual aid network.
Shop and eat at immigrant-owned stores and restaurants. The threat of DHS action has depressed the turnout of many of these businesses' core customer bases. They need your dollars more than a corporate chain restaurant does.
get started
assets & downloadables
Download and Share the one-pager
This site provides general information and resources and is not legal advice. We are not your lawyers. We are concerned citizens. Consult a licensed attorney if you require legal assistance. No personal data is collected on this site. Downloads are hosted via Proton Drive.