Noem does not retract calling Renee Good and Alex Pretti "domestic terrorists."
Key Takeaways
- It has been reported that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem declined to retract calling Renee Good and Alex Pretti “domestic terrorists.”
- Several members of Congress are demanding an apology, warning the rhetoric could endanger private individuals and chill advocacy.
- “Domestic terrorism” is a definition in federal law, not a charge or designation the U.S. government applies to individuals like it does for foreign terrorist groups.
- Immigrant communities and border-aid volunteers fear intensified stigma and potential targeting, despite no change to immigration processing or eligibility rules.
What happened
It has been reported that Gov. Kristi Noem is standing by remarks in which she labeled Renee Good and Alex Pretti “domestic terrorists,” prompting swift pushback from Democratic lawmakers who are calling on her to apologize. The dispute, surfaced by Spanish-language outlet Telemundo, has spilled into the immigration arena because the comments allegedly linked the individuals to contentious border-related activity and public safety debates. Good and Pretti are private individuals; there has been no public confirmation of criminal charges that would meet a domestic terrorism threshold.
Why the wording matters in immigration and law
In federal law, “domestic terrorism” is defined at 18 U.S.C. § 2331(5) as acts dangerous to human life intended to intimidate a civilian population or influence government policy by intimidation or coercion, occurring primarily within the United States. Crucially, the term is not a standalone federal criminal charge, and the U.S. does not maintain a domestic terrorist designation list akin to the State Department’s Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) list. Agencies like the FBI and DHS (Department of Homeland Security) may use the definition to guide investigations, but public officials’ labeling of individuals has no legal effect and can expose those named to threats and harassment.
For immigrants, asylum seekers, and advocates working near the border, the rhetoric has real-world consequences. Allegedly conflating protest, humanitarian aid, or policy criticism with terrorism can chill protected speech and deter people from seeking legal help or reporting crimes. Advocates warn that it may also feed local crackdowns that complicate day-to-day interactions with police or state officials, even though core federal immigration processes through USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and immigration courts remain unchanged.
What this means for people in the process now
If you are applying for asylum, a family-based green card, DACA, or a work visa, your eligibility rules and federal processing steps are unaffected by these remarks. However, attorneys advise exercising caution at public demonstrations, knowing your rights, and documenting any threats or harassment. Community groups and legal service providers say they are increasing “know your rights” outreach and monitoring for any spillover into state-level enforcement actions or legislative proposals that could target immigrant-rights activity.
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