Gov. Dennis Daugaard says his administration is pushing to maintain South Dakota's participation in an investment-for-visa program to spare investors that might be harmed if it is terminated by the federal government.
Daugaard also said Friday that the EB-5 visa program is a tool that the state should retain.
The state recently asked U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to refrain from ending South Dakota's participation in the program, in which wealthy participants are promised green cards in exchange for their investments.
Daugaard says the administration is concerned participating investors "might be unfairly caught in the middle" if it is terminated.
The agency informed the state in September that it intended to terminate participation. Documents submitted in response show there were about 270 investors waiting for green cards earlier this year.