By GRAHAM LEE BREWER
The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota has called for the immediate release of tribal members detained last week at a homeless encampment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota.
Three of the four Oglala Sioux Tribe members arrested in Minneapolis on Friday have since been transferred to an ICE facility at Fort Snelling, President Frank Star Comes Out said in a statement. The statement was released alongside a memorandum sent to federal immigration authorities.
“The Oglala Sioux Tribe’s memorandum makes clear that ‘tribal citizens are not aliens’ and are ‘categorically outside immigration jurisdiction,’” Star Comes Out explained. “Enrolled tribal members are citizens of the United States by statute and citizens of the Oglala Sioux Nation by treaty.”
Details surrounding the circumstances that led to the detention of the individuals remain unclear. According to the memorandum sent to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, when the tribal nation reached out to the agency, they were only provided with the first names of the men. The DHS refused to release more information unless the tribe agreed to enter into an immigration agreement with ICE.
DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday evening.
Star Comes Out emphasized that the tribe has no plans to enter any agreement with ICE.
In a post on his Facebook page, Star Comes Out revealed that the four detained tribal members were experiencing homelessness and were living under a bridge in Minneapolis. One of the members has since been released from detention.
In the official press release, the tribe demanded information on the status of the three men still in detention, the immediate release of all tribal citizens held in ICE custody, and a meeting between the tribe and the federal government.
https://www.thereporter.com/2026/01/13/immigration-enforcement-tribal-members/