Native American Actress Detained at Airport Amid Claims Her Tribal ID is 'Fake'
A 1990s TV star and recent guest on a hit show, Indigenous actress Elaine Miles, has spoken out about being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after they questioned the legitimacy of her tribal ID. The document in question is a federally recognized tribal enrollment card from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which serves as both a member of her nation and a US citizen.
This case highlights the pervasive issue of Native Americans being treated as outsiders by their own government. Although Congress granted US citizenship to all Native Americans in 1924, federal agencies have historically doubted Indigenous identity and documentation. From border crossings to law enforcement interactions, many Native people have had to prove their belonging in their own country, a reality that has been documented by historians and scholars.
Advocates point to inconsistent training on tribal IDs as a major contributor to these incidents. Tribal governments are recognized as sovereign nations with the authority to issue identification, but federal officers often receive inadequate guidance on how to verify it. As a result, even legally recognized citizens can be detained or delayed due to discrepancies between their documentation and what federal officials expect.
Miles' case underscores a stark contradiction: people whose ancestors inhabited this land for millennia are still treated as outsiders in the eyes of the law. It is a glaring example of how legal recognition and federal enforcement often fail to align in practice, leaving many Native Americans vulnerable to detention and marginalization.
A 1990s TV star and recent guest on a hit show, Indigenous actress Elaine Miles, has spoken out about being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after they questioned the legitimacy of her tribal ID. The document in question is a federally recognized tribal enrollment card from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which serves as both a member of her nation and a US citizen.
This case highlights the pervasive issue of Native Americans being treated as outsiders by their own government. Although Congress granted US citizenship to all Native Americans in 1924, federal agencies have historically doubted Indigenous identity and documentation. From border crossings to law enforcement interactions, many Native people have had to prove their belonging in their own country, a reality that has been documented by historians and scholars.
Advocates point to inconsistent training on tribal IDs as a major contributor to these incidents. Tribal governments are recognized as sovereign nations with the authority to issue identification, but federal officers often receive inadequate guidance on how to verify it. As a result, even legally recognized citizens can be detained or delayed due to discrepancies between their documentation and what federal officials expect.
Miles' case underscores a stark contradiction: people whose ancestors inhabited this land for millennia are still treated as outsiders in the eyes of the law. It is a glaring example of how legal recognition and federal enforcement often fail to align in practice, leaving many Native Americans vulnerable to detention and marginalization.
airport drama 
️, again. Like, who hasn't had their ID questioned by ICE at some point, right? 
"Your tribal ID is fake" - because that's not a super easy thing to prove or disprove. I mean, it's not like they're asking for birth certificates and stuff... just a simple tribal enrollment card? 
Anyway, this case just highlights the absurdity of how Native Americans are treated in their own country. It's wild that they have to constantly prove their identity and citizenship, even when it's clearly legit. Like, can't we all just get along (and with our IDs)? 
i'm so upset for elaine miles! she's been to so much trouble just because her tribal ID wasn't "right" according to some people who clearly have no idea what they're talking about 
. it's like, hello we've got a whole history of native americans being treated like second-class citizens even though we've lived here for thousands of years 
. i mean, congress gave us citizenship way back in 1924 but still, federal agencies are always questioning our identity and documentation... it's just not right 
. and to think that advocates have been saying that inconsistent training is the main problem 
. we need to stand with elaine miles and all the other native americans who are fighting for their rights 
.
. I mean, we're talking about people whose ancestors were here way before anyone else even thought about moving in 
It's so crazy. I mean, shouldn't she be able to prove where she's from and who she is just by showing her ID? 
And it's not just Elaine Miles - there are so many Native Americans who have been through this same thing.
. We need to fix this stuff ASAP! 
the fact that many Native people still gotta prove their identity to law enforcement is just heartbreaking... we need to do better to support our indigenous communities! 
. Like, I get it, there are protocols to follow and whatnot, but come on! A 1990s TV star gets detained like it's no big deal 
.
... I mean, can you even imagine being stopped at an airport because the gov't doesn't trust your tribal ID? It's like, hello! You're a US citizen too! What's next, them checking to see if you've got proof of your ancestors' ancestry? 
They're detaining someone who's literally born & raised on their own reservation 
It's like, we've got our own government out there trying to figure out who belongs in their own country 
just saw that Elaine Miles was detained at the airport because of her tribal ID... like what even is going on here? She's got a legit document from the Umatilla Indian Reservation and still gets held up at the border... it's wild 
. This case highlights the systemic issues that Native Americans face every day - being treated as outsiders in their own country. It's heartbreaking and infuriating at the same time 
.
And we're still having issues with IDs? It's not just Elaine Miles, either... there are tons of other Native American people who face similar struggles. Like, what even is the point of a federally recognized tribal enrollment card if it doesn't count for squat with ICE? 
but nope, icem gotta go & question her tribal id 
. It's like, wouldn't they know who she is and where she comes from? 
I just don't get why this problem still persists after all these years. It feels like we're back to the same old issues from history 
.