The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe has retracted earlier claims regarding the arrest of tribal members by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis. This update comes after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated it could not confirm such arrests or any request for information related to tribal members.
Initially, Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out shared on social media that four tribal individuals were apprehended and mentioned a purported immigration agreement sought by federal officials. However, he later clarified that his earlier statement had been 'misinterpreted.' In a memo, he confirmed that the tribe has not faced any demands from the federal authorities.
In light of past concerns over the enforcement tactics of the Trump administration, especially impacting Native Americans, the tribe is navigating challenges of maintaining cooperative relationships while safeguarding their members. Star Comes Out also mentioned that conversations about sharing information have taken place without a binding agreement.
DHS responded by asserting that there have been no claims from detainees asserting Oglala Sioux affiliation in its custody. Spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that ICE merely requested basic identification information to ensure accurate records.
The controversy has reignited discussions on how Native tribes, in pursuit of their interests, engage with federal immigration policies—sometimes finding conflicting positions between protection of their own members and collaboration with federal entities.
Notably, the tension between the Oglala Sioux and federal agencies has historical roots, further complicated by recent accusations from the Homeland Security Secretary during her previous gubernatorial term, leading to a broader examination of tribal-federal relationships.
