The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe has walked back claims he made earlier this week regarding immigration enforcement actions, stating that no arrests of tribal members took place and clarifying that the tribe was not under any demands from federal agencies for immigration agreements.
Initially, Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out alleged that four tribal members had been arrested in Minneapolis as part of a massive ICE operation. These accusations, made amid a larger context of Native American concerns regarding immigration enforcement, were met with swift denial from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which stated it could not confirm any encounters or arrests involving Oglala Sioux members.
In a memo released on Thursday, Star Comes Out indicated that his previous remarks had been misinterpreted, emphasizing the importance of clarifying the tribe's standing with federal authorities. He noted a willingness to work collaboratively while distancing his statements from any official immigration agreements.
The controversy highlights the fraught relationship between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and DHS, particularly under Secretary Kristi Noem, who has been criticized by tribal leaders in the past for her comments linking reservations to drug cartels. Recent tensions have led to discussions among various Native American tribes reconsidering their collaborations with immigration authorities amid growing social consciousness about the impacts of deportation and enforcement policies.
As community advocates fear the implications of ICE's presence, reports of arrestees asserting their tribal identities during detention have previously surfaced, further complicating the narrative surrounding immigrant rights and tribal sovereignty.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges Native American communities face regarding federal immigration policies, the potential for racial profiling, and the complex dialogue between tribal interests and federal governance.
