Noem pledges to not accept illegal immigrants: ‘Call me when you’re an American’

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) on Wednesday pledged that her state “won’t be taking any illegal immigrants” as the Biden administration grapples with a large influx of unaccompanied minors at the U.S.-Mexico border.

“South Dakota won’t be taking any illegal immigrants that the Biden Administration wants to relocate. My message to illegal immigrants… call me when you’re an American,” Noem tweeted.

South Dakota won’t be taking any illegal immigrants that the Biden Administration wants to relocate. My message to illegal immigrants… call me when you’re an American.

— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) April 14, 2021

Noem’s tweet comes two days after fellow Republican Govs. Henry McMaster of South Carolina and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska made similar calls, with McMaster issuing an executive order that seeks to prevent the federal government from placing unaccompanied migrant children in South Carolina.

“Sending unaccompanied migrant children from the border to states like South Carolina only makes the problem worse,” McMaster wrote on Twitter.

The heartbreaking humanitarian crisis on our border was created by the Biden Administration. Sending unaccompanied migrant children from the border to states like South Carolina only makes the problem worse. https://t.co/dB5EUOJEyc

— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) April 12, 2021

The federal government is struggling to find enough space for the influx of unaccompanied minors, recently putting up a new emergency migrant facility near an overcrowded Customs and Border Protection one.

Officials in Long Beach, Calif., recently agreed to allow the city’s convention center to be used to house unaccompanied minors. That decision has sparked demonstrations by activists demanding transparency to ensure the humane treatment of the children.

Last week, it was reported that the Biden administration is currently spending around $60 million per week to take care of unaccompanied minors arriving at the border. Republican lawmakers have heavily criticized the administration’s handling of the border, claiming the reversal of former President Trump’s policies is encouraging more migrants to come.