Rep. Dusty Johnson, U.S. Representative for South Dakota | Congresman Dusty Johnson Official U.S. House Headshot
Rep. Dusty Johnson, U.S. Representative for South Dakota | Congresman Dusty Johnson Official U.S. House Headshot
Congressional Republicans and former President Trump have announced progress in efforts to secure the southern border, noting that illegal border crossings are at a record low. The One Big Beautiful Bill has allocated funding to complete the border wall and increase immigration enforcement personnel.
Rep. Dusty Johnson, who represents South Dakota’s at-large district in Congress, has introduced the Furthering American Security by Tempering Environmental Regulations (FASTER) Act. The legislation would require future administrations to regularly evaluate and address issues with border security infrastructure and technology. Johnson stated, "This legislation will require the administration to evaluate border security infrastructure and technology on a regular basis and address any issues in a timely manner, securing the border for generations."
Johnson discussed his proposal on Fox News Radio.
In another legislative move, Johnson introduced a bill aimed at restricting U.S. Department of Transportation funds from going to sanctuary cities that do not comply with federal immigration law. He explained, "My bill sends a message to state and local governments – if they want the federal government’s help, they must play by the rules." Johnson added that he spoke with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy about this measure and received support.
Recent events include the conviction of a woman involved in methamphetamine distribution linked to a Mexican cartel operation on the Pine Ridge Reservation. This resulted in the deportation of two cartel members who had previously been deported multiple times.
The House Committee on Natural Resources recently held a hearing focused on cartel activity and drug trafficking within Indian country. Johnson encouraged increased FBI enforcement efforts on South Dakota reservations, stating, "These cartels do not care about the safety of Pine Ridge or the rest of South Dakota. The federal government should work with tribes to allocate resources to combat these bad actors."
Johnson has represented South Dakota’s at-large district since 2019 after succeeding Kristi Noem. Born in Pierre in 1976, he is 46 years old and resides in Mitchell. He graduated from the University of South Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in 1999.
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