By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation has withdrawn from a nearly $30 million federal contract with ICE to design immigrant detention centers following online backlash. The deal, which drew criticism due to the tribe’s history and involvement in mass deportation efforts, led to the firing of economic development leaders and sparked internal reviews. The tribe had established KPB Services LLC, with Ernest C. Woodward Jr. as a key figure, to secure the contract, which was initially valued at $19 million and later increased to $29.9 million. While the tribe has divested from the project, details surrounding the selection process and the Tribal Council’s involvement remain unclear.
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Kansas tribe ends nearly $30 million deal with ICE, and you’ve got to wonder, what were they thinking initially? It’s a hefty sum of money, a cool $30 million on the table. It seems wild to consider the implications of such a deal, and the decisions that led them to this point.
And then, boom, history. It’s easy to sound like a grumpy old sage, but it’s important to recognize that all the voices saying “it doesn’t matter, they’ll do whatever they want” now have real, concrete proof that they were wrong. This really does matter, and speaking out matters too. It’s a win for the people who opposed this and for the tribe for backing off. Money is important, but clearly, there wasn’t enough to buy respect and avoid the very real implications of the contract.
So, this is a moment to applaud the many people who saw this situation and spoke up. It’s a shout-out to the people in Chicago who bring whistles and protect their neighbors from ICE. And it’s a nod to the people who’ve voted and made certain figures so scared that they’re resorting to national addresses, revealing their weakness and showing they’re nothing more than paper tigers.
Resist. Don’t surrender before the battle even begins. Help the people. You can only truly be defeated if you accept defeat. This outcome is a testament to the strength of those who fought against this deal. Remember that tribal sovereignty means they have the right to decide who they do business with. Walking away from $30 million is a big move, but some things simply aren’t worth the political headache and the moral implications. Now, keep an eye on other tribes. Will they start reconsidering their federal contracts too? This could set a precedent.
The headline is a bit misleading. The contract might still exist, with the LLC the tribe created for the business with ICE. The tribe may have “divested” from the company, meaning they sold or transferred ownership. But to whom? And in what form? It’s important to understand the details. There’s a strong likelihood that the “contracting” work will continue for ICE, regardless of the tribal involvement.
This situation still raises so many questions that need to be answered. One wonders, if this were happening in countries like France, Germany, or even Japan, would the entire country be in an uproar? There’s a perspective out there that the USA is a weak country, and that it might collapse. It’s an extreme view, but it highlights the anger and frustration that some feel. Natives should have demanded to know when “the white-asses” would be leaving, according to that point of view. $30 million, yeah, it seems appealing, but the cost, in the end, may be too high.
But wait, according to the current regime, aren’t we not citizens of the US? That’s the feeling of some. Naw. 30 million solves a heap of problems. It’s shocking that the tribe even considered the deal in the first place. Consider this: tribal members in the Pacific Northwest have been arrested and detained by ICE, despite having tribal ID.
A story from the Seattle Times highlights the complexities of the situation. Indigenous actress Elaine Miles says ICE called her tribal ID fake. It makes you think, someone will take the money, and it’s easy to say when you’re not in abject poverty.
This is how it works. While ruining the lives of millions, even US citizens who have never committed crimes, cancer patients, and kids are being kidnapped and deported to third-world countries. What is this, and is it really worth it?
You might not realize how impoverished most tribes are. Tribal business executives reportedly signed the contract without consulting the parent government, i.e., the tribe as a whole. It was not a consensus decision, and it was eventually walked back by the tribal powers that be. There’s a suggestion to watch episode 2, season 1 of “Dirty Money” on Netflix, skipping to minute 24:50. This kind of information sheds light on the murky waters of financial dealings, and the ethical compromises that can arise.
The opinion of a tribal leader after helping commit $1.2 BILLION in fraud is something to consider.
If no one spoke up, they would have taken the money. It’s a shame that such practices still occur. Seeing people who don’t even benefit from it rationalize it is heartbreaking. There’s also the persistent, racist myth that tribes are rolling in cash due to casinos, which is difficult to dispel. Most tribes lose money being pushed into predatory casino deals by outside investors, or are at risk of violent actions.
This is a good point to show to conservative family and in-laws. They’re always so conflicted on how to think about the one guy who >! is always talking about the government overstepping his rights (which they think they agree with) but eventually they come to understand how predatory his crimes were and hate him. !< Colonization is a magical system. To this day, in communities all over the world, even long after colonizers have gone they still perpetuate the customs of the colonizers of old like they never really left.