When Citizenship Is Not Enough: Native Americans Facing ICE Detention
Written by: Riley Ehlert
Even Indigenous people who have inhabited the land for centuries prior to the earliest European colonization are not immune to detainment by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Despite ostensibly promoting the mission of removing “criminals” from the nation, ICE continues to target anyone that they deem a threat.
The recent Supreme Court ruling, legalizing racial profiling by ICE agents, only increases the risk for anyone to be targeted and provides the mechanism for anyone to be interrogated or detained based on skin color, employment, and language. Cases are rising of Native people being wrongfully detained despite carrying ID or clearly identifying themselves as tribal citizens.
Ryan Mills, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians’ general counsel, said in comments quoted by Bridge Michigan: "Irony maybe is the word, because not only are Native Americans citizens of the state they live in and the tribe they are part of, ultimately … they were here before the government of the United States was created."
Most recently, members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe were detained by ICE after raids in Minnesota. According to CBS News, several weeks ago tribal President Frank Star made a statement that “immigration enforcement arrested four tribal members and that the federal government tried to extract an "immigration agreement" out of the tribe in return for information about their members' whereabouts. Although Star later walked back his statement, the threat of detainment still stands. When tribal sovereignty is called into question, it puts Native peoples and their longstanding treaties with the federal government at risk.
The news comes amid national outrage over the fatal shooting of US citizen Renee Good on January 7, sparking protests and backlash over the unnecessary use of force used by ICE agents. Assaults by these ICE officers, who continue to wage the Trump administration’s war against immigration, have endangered citizens. The names of the people arrested, shot, and killed by enforcement tactics will live in the memories of their families.
The recent nationwide shutdown protested Trump policies across the country by declaring a “no work, no school, no shopping” day on January 30th. The series of protests and school walkouts serves to stand in solidarity with Minneapolis, where intensive care nurse Alex Pretti was also shot and killed by ICE.
Now more than ever it becomes important to stay educated about basic rights afforded to every individual and keep identification ready. Please see the Native American Rights Fund for more details about how to protect yourself and others: Resources for Individuals and Nonprofits Approached by ICE
Works Cited
Cameron, Hugh. “Native Americans Raise Alarm over ICE Operations.” Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2026, www.newsweek.com/native-americans-raise-alarm-over-ice-operations-11376134. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Hinkley, Justin A. “Michigan Tribes Warn Members about ICE Stops: “Irony Maybe Is the Word.”” Bridge Michigan, 16 Jan. 2026, bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-tribes-warn-members-about-ice-stops-irony-maybe-is-the-word/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Kruesi, Kimberlee, and Holly Ramer. “Protesters Call for Nationwide Strike against Trump Administration’s Immigration Crackdown.” AP News, 30 Jan. 2026, apnews.com/article/immigration-protests-64fd52ba5283e8f56c57dddb1c3a3852.
“Oglala Sioux Leader Frank Star Comes out Walks Back Claims of DHS Pressure, Member Arrests.” Cbsnews.com, 16 Jan. 2026, www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/oglala-sioux-president-frank-star-comes-out-dhs-dispute-members-arrested-ice-minneapolis/. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Young, Robin, et al. “Native Americans Say They’re Being Swept up by Ice.” NPR, NPR, 15 Jan. 2026, https://www.npr.org/2026/01/15/nx-s1-5678637/native-americans-say-theyre-being-swept-up-by-ice
