The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota on Tuesday called for the immediate release of tribal members who were detained at a homeless encampment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota last week.
Three of the four Oglala Sioux Tribe members who were arrested in Minneapolis on Friday have been transferred to an ICE facility at Fort Snelling, President Frank Star Comes Out said in a statement released with 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 asserted. “Enrolled tribal members are citizens of the United States by statute and citizens of the Oglala Sioux Nation by treaty.”
Details about the circumstances that led to their detention were unclear. Star Comes Out indicated that the tribe was only provided with first names of the men detained and claimed that more information was withheld unless an immigration agreement was established with ICE.
He stated the tribe has no intention to enter such an agreement. In a post on Facebook, Star Comes Out mentioned that the detained tribal members are experiencing homelessness and living under a bridge in Minneapolis, with one member already released from detention.
In the press release, he insisted upon clarity regarding the status of the detained members, demanded the release of all tribal citizens in ICE custody, and requested a meeting between the tribe and federal officials.
DHS has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the situation.
