Red State Sheriff Praises Trump’s Border Policies for Impacting His County: 'Big Impact'

South Dakota Sheriff Pat West is crediting former President Donald Trump's border policies for what he describes as a tangible decrease in drug trafficking in his state. Ahead of Trump's address to Congress on Tuesday night, West shared with Fox News Digital that his small county is already feeling the effects of heightened border security.

West, who serves as the sheriff of Meade County, highlighted the dwindling supply of drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl in South Dakota—a state far removed from the southern border but still heavily impacted by its dynamics. "We are seeing a big impact on the border," West said, adding that methamphetamine and fentanyl have historically been their biggest challenges. "The shutdown of the border recently has already made an impact on us up north in South Dakota."

West was invited to Trump's speech by Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., who echoed the sheriff's sentiments, emphasizing the rapid progress in curbing illegal crossings. "I know that people think that the federal government never gets its work done, but we have seen illegal border crossings down 95% just in the last 40 days of the Trump administration," Johnson noted. "Great law enforcement officers like Sheriff West are seeing those impacts in South Dakota communities."

Reported statistics back these claims. Border Patrol Chief Mike Banks recently stated that illegal crossings at the southern border are down 94% compared to the same period last year, a figure also reiterated by Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Homan added that known "gotaways"—undocumented individuals who evade capture—have dropped by 95%.

Sheriff West underscored the broader implications of drug trafficking for community safety. "Overall, our drug problem is connected to a lot of our other crimes that we have in the community," he remarked. "By controlling the border, it eliminates the amount of unnecessary methamphetamine and fentanyl that is coming across the border and then ultimately getting to South Dakota."

West also expressed hope that Trump's administration would continue to prioritize border security funding and support for law enforcement. "The other thing is to continue to support law enforcement and military," he added. "I've got two boys in the United States Marine Corps, so that gets pretty close to me. But he's putting the right people in the right positions to support the military and keep us secure."

Beyond his advocacy for border security, West's work as sheriff has already made headlines. Last year, he cracked a sex trafficking case by rescuing a 13-year-old girl abducted by a 33-year-old male sex offender. He also arrested a man carrying 2 grams of methamphetamine and 20 grams of fentanyl—equivalent to approximately 200 pills.

West’s perspective reflects the challenges small communities face in confronting the ripple effects of national drug trade issues. In a recent statement, he said, "Illicit drugs, especially fentanyl and methamphetamine, continue to be a scourge on our communities. The devastation these drugs cause can’t be measured. We will continue to do all we can to get this poison off the streets in Meade County and hold those who bring this poison here accountable."