RAPID CITY, S.D. – Yesterday, ten individuals were approved for parole and transferred to federal custody for deportation, as announced by Governor Larry Rhoden. The South Dakota Board of Pardons and Paroles approved the transfer of the foreign-born inmates to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of Operation: Prairie Thunder, a new public safety initiative.
The South Dakota Department of Corrections identified the inmates based on their immigration status, low-risk classification, and approaching sentence completion. The Parole Board reviewed each case in accordance with state law SDCL 24-15A-41.1, which allows for the parole of an inmate to another state or federal jurisdiction for confinement or deportation if it is deemed in the best interest of the citizens of South Dakota.
Governor Rhoden previously signed a letter of intent to establish a 287(g) agreement between the DOC and ICE. A 287(g) agreement is a federal program that allows state and local law enforcement agencies to partner with ICE to enforce federal immigration law.
The inmates paroled for deportation include:
- Jose Sanchez, Mexico, multiple counts of Possession Controlled Substance (Schedule I & II)
- Yahia Hassan, Sudan, multiple counts of Possession Controlled Substance (Schedule I & II), 3rd Degree Burglary, and Receiving/Transferring Stolen Vehicle
- Patrick Morris, Liberia, Grand Theft < $2,500 and 1st Degree Burglary
- Dustin Buffalo, Canada, Reckless Burning and Aggravated Assault
- Mohammed Kromah, Liberia, Aggravated Assault
- Victor Pacheco, Mexico, Aggravated Assault and Possession of a Weapon in Jail
- Deng Ayom, Sudan, Discharge of Firearm at Occupied Structure
- Mustafe Hamud, Somalia, Distribution of Controlled Substance (Schedule I & II)
- Miguel Caveda Perez, Cuba, 4th Degree Rape
- Bereket Mekonnen, Ethiopia, 2nd Degree Burglary, Possession Controlled Substance (Schedule I & II), and Receiving/Transferring Stolen Vehicle
Operation: Prairie Thunder is a comprehensive public safety initiative in the Black Hills and across South Dakota. It includes an anti-crime effort in Sioux Falls and a coordinated effort with ICE to deport foreign-born criminals.