Noem's 'Final Call' on Flights, But Whose Hand Was on the Dial?
The Hill dutifully reports the Department of Justice's claim that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem personally approved sending asylum-seekers back on deportation flights, even after a judge's order. This narrative frames Noem as a decisive, border-hawkish leader, omitting the historical playbook of using migrants as political pawns. From governors like DeSantis to Abbott, grandstanding on 'border
security' has become a reliable, if cynical, tactic to energize a base, often at immense human cost and frequently in defiance of judicial rulings. One might wonder if these 'final calls' are about effective governance, or merely generating outrage-fueled soundbites for future campaign ads. The pattern suggests a convenient amnesia regarding due process and human rights, especially when a
manufactured crisis can score political points. It seems the rule of law is optional when the cameras are rolling and constituents are being told to fear the 'other.'