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Despite Native Americans being on this land first, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have reportedly targeted several natives in our neighboring state. Tribal leaders in North Dakota are issuing urgent warnings for members to carry identification following reports that federal immigration agents have detained Native Americans in Minnesota, according to Mary Steurer of the North Dakota Monitor.
Last week, ICE reportedly detained at least five tribal citizens in Minneapolis—including four members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Tribal chairmen, including Standing Rock’s Steve Sitting Bear, have issued public safety alerts, urging that tribal members are U.S. citizens and are not subject to immigration enforcement.
Though ICE states they target individuals with criminal backgrounds, they appeared to not be aware of any aspects of these tribal citizens’ identities, much less any potential criminal history. Reports of these incidents show agents likely did not have probable cause to detain these individuals.
The tension follows a surge of two thousand federal agents into the Twin Cities under Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Protests have erupted nationwide after an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother and U.S. citizen, during a raid in Minneapolis last Wednesday.
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