The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota called for the immediate release of tribal members detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota. Three of the four Oglala Sioux Tribe members arrested last Friday in Minneapolis remain in custody at an ICE facility in Fort Snelling.
In an official memorandum to federal immigration authorities, President Frank Star Comes Out emphasized that 'tribal citizens are not aliens' and are 'categorically outside immigration jurisdiction.' He affirmed, 'Enrolled tribal members are citizens of the United States by statute and citizens of the Oglala Sioux Nation by treaty.'
The specifics surrounding their detention are unclear, but the tribe is demanding the release of all detained tribal citizens and the status of those still in custody. Star Comes Out reported that the detained members were experiencing homelessness, living under a bridge in Minneapolis.
In a Facebook post, Star Comes Out stated the tribe has no intention to enter into an immigration agreement with ICE, which they believe would compromise their members' rights. He criticized the conduct of the Department of Homeland Security, which only provided first names of the detained individuals and refused to share further details without a formal agreement.
DHS has yet to respond to requests for comments on this matter. Meanwhile, the tribe is advocating for a meeting with government officials to discuss their members' situation.
