The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe is demanding the immediate release of three tribal members detained by ICE agents in Minneapolis and transferred to an ICE facility. The tribe asserts that its members are U.S. citizens and outside immigration jurisdiction. Homeland Security has been unwilling to provide information about the detentions unless the tribe enters an immigration agreement with ICE, which it refuses to do. The detentions highlight a broader pattern of ICE targeting of tribal members, prompting some tribes to take measures like providing tribal ID cards.
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A second Native American-owned corporation recently terminated a multi-million dollar contract with ICE following community pressure, mirroring a similar decision by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation last month. The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin’s subsidiary cancelled a $3.8 million contract for federal facility engineering and inspection after the Oneida government condemned the deal. These contracts are rooted in affirmative action programs designed to benefit historically disadvantaged, minority-owned businesses, particularly through the federal 8(a) program, which allows for no-bid awards. While some tribal corporations are severing ties, others, like Akima, continue to hold contracts with ICE, including detention services, raising concerns about the ethics of such arrangements and the potential for a new form of colonization.
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In a rare move, President Trump vetoed the Miccosukee Reserved Area Act, which would have returned 30 acres of Everglades land to the Miccosukee Tribe. This decision, seemingly motivated by the tribe’s opposition to an immigration detention center, represents a break from the bipartisan support the bill had garnered. The veto has stalled environmental restoration efforts and land protection from climate change impacts that are supported by the tribe. Experts suggest the action is unusual, as land return to tribes typically has little opposition and bipartisan support. The House of Representatives was unable to override the veto, jeopardizing the project’s future.
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In Minneapolis, a significant ICE operation has led to the detention and questioning of several Native American men, with community members reporting racial profiling and mistaken identity concerns. ICE agents attempted to enter Little Earth Housing Project, a Native American residential area, and detained multiple individuals, including a Red Lake Nation descendant, Jose Roberto “Beto” Ramirez, who was later released. These actions have sparked protests and calls for ICE’s removal from the state, with tribal leaders and community advocates expressing concerns about the targeting of Native communities and the lack of readily available data on ICE encounters. Several tribal organizations have issued statements condemning ICE’s actions and presence in Minneapolis, with some tribes now working to issue tribal IDs to all members ages five and up.
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The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation faces significant backlash from other Native Americans following the revelation of a nearly $30 million federal contract awarded to a tribal business entity for the design of immigrant detention centers. Critics condemn the tribe’s actions, citing historical parallels to their own forced removal and detention by the U.S. government. Tribal leaders are now seeking ways to end the contract and have fired the economic development leaders involved. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) dealings with tribes are facing increased scrutiny, especially as federal funding decreases, pressuring tribes to generate revenue.
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The Trump administration removed the congressionally mandated “Not One More Report” on missing and murdered Native Americans from the Department of Justice website nearly 300 days ago, citing compliance with an executive order targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The report, produced by the Not Invisible Act of 2020, aimed to provide solutions and educate the public on the crisis affecting Indigenous communities. Senators who championed the legislation, like Catherine Cortez Masto, expressed outrage and have reached out to the administration to have the report restored. The report detailed recommendations for alleviating the crisis, and its removal has been criticized as a misclassification of tribal nations and a lack of understanding regarding the issue.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
ICE Detains Native Americans in Minneapolis Raids
In Minneapolis, a significant ICE operation has led to the detention and questioning of several Native American men, with community members reporting racial profiling and mistaken identity concerns. ICE agents attempted to enter Little Earth Housing Project, a Native American residential area, and detained multiple individuals, including a Red Lake Nation descendant, Jose Roberto “Beto” Ramirez, who was later released. These actions have sparked protests and calls for ICE’s removal from the state, with tribal leaders and community advocates expressing concerns about the targeting of Native communities and the lack of readily available data on ICE encounters. Several tribal organizations have issued statements condemning ICE’s actions and presence in Minneapolis, with some tribes now working to issue tribal IDs to all members ages five and up.
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