ICE Detains Natives Who Never 'Illegally' Crossed a Border
Newsweek highlighted the concerning detention by ICE of four Native Americans in Minnesota, including members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, for alleged immigration violations. The story details local outrage and the tribal leader's bewilderment. (One might wonder, who are the real 'immigrants' here?) The detentions, according to the article, involved individuals who were lawfully present, holding
valid tribal identification documents, not passports, highlighting a fundamental clash of jurisdictions and sovereignty. This isn’t just an immigration procedural glitch; it’s a living testament to foundational American hypocrisy. These individuals are Indigenous to this land. The very concept of 'illegal immigration' applied to Native Americans on their ancestral territories is a colonial
fiction, echoing centuries of broken treaties and forced removals, including acts like the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The detentions underscore a persistent refusal by the U.S. government to acknowledge inherent tribal sovereignty and the historical fact that Indigenous peoples never 'immigrated' to this continent. One might ask, if land seizure is the ultimate 'illegal entry,' who exactly should
be detained?