Tribal nations in Oklahoma respond to ICE activity amid reports involving Native citizens
(TVLSE, Okla.) Tribal nations and Native organizations across Oklahoma are addressing concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a rise in incidents involving Native people nationwide.
Recent cases include Oglala Sioux Tribal members detained in Minnesota last week, an Ojibwe/Red Lake Nation descendant detained in Minnesota, a member of Arizona’s Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community detained in Iowa, and a Diné (Navajo) citizen detained by ICE in the Phoenix area.
Despite ICE having no authority to detain Native Americans for immigration purposes, multiple tribes have issued public advisories to citizens.
On Saturday the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Public Safety released the following statement on Facebook:
“We have confirmed that officials from the federal immigration agency ICE are now in Oklahoma. Please be advised that the Muscogee Nation is monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of our citizens both on and off the Reservation. Citizens are encouraged to keep their tribal identification with them as accessible as possible. Should you be contacted by ICE remain calm, respectful, and know your rights. The Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department dispatch has direct access to verify citizenship for any citizen, no matter where they are, and can be reached at (918) 732-7800.”
Recent ICE-related activity in Oklahoma includes a joint “Operation Guardian” effort confirmed by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, as well as the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes opposing the placement and operation of a proposed ICE detention facility in Durant earlier this month.
As ICE's presence continues to increase, the number of tribal advisories is, too.
The Pawnee Nation said they are monitoring ICE reports.
The Chickasaw Nation is now urging its citizens to carry their state and tribal IDs when travelling.
And Governor of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians John Johnson also recently addressed concerns about Native Americans being stopped and detained by ICE.
On Friday Johnson said, “There is no reasonable basis, reasonable suspicion, or probable cause to restrict the liberties of Native Americans based on any of the following characteristics: skin color, hair color, eye color, lack of identification, etc. To be blunt just because a Native American may resemble superficially, a migrant from Central or South America that does not mean that federal agents have the right to approach.”
Johnson advised tribal members not to get loud or angry if they find themselves approached by ICE, but to ask the federal officer why they are being stopped, questioned or detained and stated that if a valid warrant is provided, they do have to comply.
Earlier this week, United Indian Nations of Oklahoma (UINO) issued their own advisory, with UINO Chairperson Ben Barnes releasing the following statement:
“It is deeply concerning that Tribal citizens have been questioned or detained despite their lawful status. Given these developments, there is no reason to assume Native people in Oklahoma could not or are not already facing similar encounters. We strongly urge all Native people to carry any Tribal, state, or federal identification available to help protect themselves and their families.”
UINO’s advisory included a widely circulated fact sheet by Native American Rights Fund (NARF).
NARF urges people not to open their doors to ICE, unless there is a valid warrant signed by a judge. If an ICE agent states that they have a warrant, NARF says individuals should request that it be slid under the door for their review.
And, the NARF fact sheet states, a warrant signed by a judge would have the names of specific individuals on it as well as specific areas of the home to be searched.
Find the full NARF fact sheet here.
On Friday, NARF Executive Director John Echohawk released the following statement:
“Across Indian Country, we are seeing Native American people illegally stopped, abused, or detained by ICE agents. It is hard to miss the irony of locking up the first people of this land in an immigration sweep. It’s indicative of the racial profiling that is happening, and we refuse to stand by while the United States government abducts Native people.”
Crosswinds News is committed to sharing accurate, verified information across Native American communities. If you have an ICE-related experience or story you believe should be reported, please email us at admin@crosswindsnews.net. If you’ve heard a rumor and want help confirming it, we welcome those tips as well and will do our best to investigate them.
