NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Rapid City, SD, May 12, 2025: On Saturday, two very different graduation ceremonies played out across South Dakota. In Madison, Governor Kristi Noem received an honorary degree at Dakota State University. At the same time, across the state in Rapid City, Priya Saxena—a student from India who Noem’s administration had tried to deport—was awarded a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering and a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering at South Dakota Mines.
Saxena, 28, was introduced to a cheering crowd as “Dr. Priya Saxena,” marking the culmination of five years of academic work. Her appearance at the graduation ceremony came after a judge temporarily barred the federal government and Noem, who also serves as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, from taking any deportation-related actions against her before a scheduled May 13 court hearing.
Saxena has been the subject of ongoing legal proceedings after the Department of Homeland Security placed her on a deportation list, citing a 2021 misdemeanor conviction for failing to move over for flashing yellow lights. Her student visa was valid through 2027, and she had disclosed the traffic violation during her visa renewal process.
Saxena filed a lawsuit against Noem and DHS, arguing that her traffic offense is not grounds for deportation and that she has not engaged in political activity, protests, or controversial public discourse. The court granted a restraining order in her favor earlier this month, allowing her to attend the commencement.
Meanwhile, Noem’s honorary degree was met with protest from some students and faculty at Dakota State University. Both the student senate and general faculty reportedly voted against the university’s decision to honor her, citing concerns about the message it could send to international students and marginalized communities.
Outside the ceremony, demonstrators criticized Noem’s role in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. One protest sign read, “A doctorate in graft I could understand,” referencing her honorary degree.
A university spokesperson defended the decision, stating that Noem was invited while she was still governor, due to her support for the school’s cybersecurity initiatives. In her commencement speech, Noem encouraged graduates to pursue bold decisions and emphasized the importance of relationships and self-belief.
The contrast between the two ceremonies—a governor receiving public honors amid protest, and a student once targeted by her department earning academic credentials—has added symbolic weight to the ongoing debate about immigration policy and the role of international students in U.S. higher education.
The legal battle over Saxena’s immigration status is set to continue in court this week.
Cover photo credits: Kristi Noem/X Priya Saxena/LinkedIn.
