South Dakota stiffens penalty for disrupting worship, in response to ICE protests elsewhere

South Dakota stiffens penalty for disrupting worship, in response to ICE protests elsewhere

PIERRE — The crime of preventing religious practices by threat or violence will change from a misdemeanor to a felony in South Dakota, in response to out-of-state protests against immigration enforcement actions. State Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff, R-Pierre, and state House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, sponsored the bill in coordination with Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden, who signed it into law Tuesday. It increases the pun…