The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota announced on Tuesday the call for the immediate release of tribal members who were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at a homeless encampment in Minneapolis last week.
Three of the four Oglala Sioux members arrested on Friday have been transferred to an ICE facility at Fort Snelling. President Frank Star Comes Out issued a statement in conjunction with a memorandum sent to federal immigration authorities, stating, “The Oglala Sioux Tribe’s memorandum makes clear that ‘tribal citizens are not aliens’ and are ‘categorically outside immigration jurisdiction.’” Star Comes Out emphasized that enrolled tribal members are citizens of the United States as per statute and citizens of the Oglala Sioux Nation by treaty.
While details regarding the circumstances that led to their detention are still unclear, Star Comes Out highlighted that the tribe doesn't plan to enter into an immigration agreement with ICE. In his Facebook post, he revealed that the detained members were experiencing homelessness, living under a bridge in Minneapolis, and mentioned that one member has been released.
The president demanded information on the status of the three men still in custody, urged the release of all tribal citizens in ICE custody, and requested a meeting with federal government officials.
DHS has yet to respond to the requests or to provide further information about the detained individuals.
