November 1, 2024
Dear John,

Back the Blue

BIG Update

South Dakota's support for our men and women in blue was on full display this week when I joined more than 2,000 law enforcement officers and supporters at the annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner. In a highly divisive and sometimes violent time, these officers run into dangerous situations to save lives. I’m grateful for all they do to keep our communities safe.

Johnson speaking at the Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner

BIG Idea

Life Flight serves a 150-mile radius in the Black Hills and saves thousands of lives every year. This flying ICU and its EMTs are essential for South Dakota’s long distances between many rural communities and the closest hospital. We discussed the need for more EMT training in South Dakota to ensure adequate staffing to save lives.

Johnson visiting Life Flight in the Black Hills

BIG News

The border crisis has made communities less safe around the country. This week, an illegal immigrant in Chicago shot a Jewish man walking to a synagogue. The illegal immigrant is from Mauritania, a country in West Africa. Migrants from Mauritania are supposed to be subjected to additional screening protocol by the Department of Homeland Security when entering the U.S., due to security concerns and a unique travel pattern they follow that allows them into our country. Although these protocols exist, the gunman was released into the U.S. We must secure our southern border so attacks like this don’t happen again.

While the shooter has been charged with 14 felony counts, unfortunately Chicago is a sanctuary city, which shields illegal immigrants from federal law enforcement like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Chicago may refuse to cooperate with ICE, should the agency request removal of the illegal immigrant. This is unsafe for Chicago and unsafe for America.

I voted for the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act to ensure sanctuary cities like Chicago don’t receive any federal funds that would benefit illegal immigrants. These cities should not be allowed to use federal dollars to provide food, shelter, healthcare, legal services, and transportation to illegal immigrants.

The border crisis doesn’t only exist at the border. It has spread into communities across America. Every state and city must take their responsibility to protect Americans seriously.

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