Oglala Sioux Tribe President Sparks Controversy Over Immigration Claims
The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota has walked back claims that tribal members were detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, sparking concerns over the federal government's involvement.
Tribal leaders are demanding the release of three homeless tribe members who were taken into ICE custody in Minneapolis last Friday. Frank Star Comes Out, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, stated that the detainees are "citizens of the United States by statute and citizens of the Oglala Sioux Nation by treaty." He claimed that the detention was a clear violation of federal treaties.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Star Comes Out explained that tribal authorities were not provided with any information about the detainees' cases beyond their first names. The agency refused to release more details unless the tribe agreed to an immigration agreement with ICE. However, the president made it clear that he would not enter into such an agreement, stating that it would allow ICE or Homeland Security to trespass on tribal lands and arrest or detain tribe members.
Star Comes Out emphasized that tribal sovereignty is non-negotiable, adding that treaties are not optional. He urged Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to respond to the tribe's inquests.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about Indigenous Americans being targeted by ICE officers as part of immigration crackdowns across the country. Actress Elaine Miles, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, was detained by ICE agents in November who claimed her tribal ID was "fake." She recalled an agent saying that anyone could make such a claim.
As tensions rise between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the federal government over immigration claims, it is essential to recognize the importance of respecting tribal sovereignty and adhering to federal treaties.
The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota has walked back claims that tribal members were detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, sparking concerns over the federal government's involvement.
Tribal leaders are demanding the release of three homeless tribe members who were taken into ICE custody in Minneapolis last Friday. Frank Star Comes Out, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, stated that the detainees are "citizens of the United States by statute and citizens of the Oglala Sioux Nation by treaty." He claimed that the detention was a clear violation of federal treaties.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Star Comes Out explained that tribal authorities were not provided with any information about the detainees' cases beyond their first names. The agency refused to release more details unless the tribe agreed to an immigration agreement with ICE. However, the president made it clear that he would not enter into such an agreement, stating that it would allow ICE or Homeland Security to trespass on tribal lands and arrest or detain tribe members.
Star Comes Out emphasized that tribal sovereignty is non-negotiable, adding that treaties are not optional. He urged Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to respond to the tribe's inquests.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about Indigenous Americans being targeted by ICE officers as part of immigration crackdowns across the country. Actress Elaine Miles, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, was detained by ICE agents in November who claimed her tribal ID was "fake." She recalled an agent saying that anyone could make such a claim.
As tensions rise between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the federal government over immigration claims, it is essential to recognize the importance of respecting tribal sovereignty and adhering to federal treaties.
They can't just take away people's freedom 'cause they think their ID might be fake 
. It's like, we get it, they wanna enforce the law, but this is our land and our people we're talkin' about 
. We gotta have some respect for that.
it's like, we made those agreements a long time ago, and now you're tryin' to just sweep 'em under the rug? That's not how it works, fam 
.
.
not just treatin' people like they're some kinda criminal or somethin'.
this whole situation is giving me major layout anxiety... I mean, can't they just organize their info in a clear and concise manner? 
The president's statement sounds like a hot mess - all over the place with no clear structure or formatting. And what's up with the lack of concrete details from ICE?! 
I need to see some proper bullet points, headings, and maybe even an infographic to really understand this complex issue. 
Come on, folks, let's get organized! 
I get that the Oglala Sioux Tribe is trying to protect its members, but sometimes it feels like they're pitting themselves against the very government that's supposed to be protecting them. 
Frank Star Comes Out's stance on this is a bit puzzling - if he really thinks treaties are non-negotiable, shouldn't he just stick to what the law says? 
The whole thing feels so... complicated. And can we please get some more info on what exactly happened with Elaine Miles and her tribal ID? 
Anyway, I guess this is just another example of how difficult it is to balance individual rights with federal responsibilities. 
. The fact that ICE agents detained three homeless tribe members without proper knowledge of their cases raises serious questions about the US government's commitment to upholding federal treaties with Native American tribes 
. This incident highlights the need for better communication and collaboration between federal agencies and Native American tribes to prevent such situations from occurring.
. The US government has a responsibility to uphold its treaties with Native American nations, which are enshrined in federal law. Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust placed in our government by these communities 
.
... So the president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe thinks he's above the law because of some treaty? 
The fact that ICE agents just swooped in and started detaining homeless tribe members without any info is super sketchy. I mean, what if those "citizens" were actually just looking for a free place to crash? 
. If what the president said is true, then ICE is not following its own rules, which would be super bad for everyone. I mean, if anyone can claim they're a citizen of a tribe, it's kinda like opening up the floodgates, you know? It doesn't seem right that tribal authorities weren't even given details about the detainees' cases before they got detained 
. The fact that some agents were making up stories about people's IDs just shows you, it's not about the law, it's about picking on certain groups 
.
It's not fair to the people affected, whether it's the detainees themselves or the tribe members who might be living in fear of being targeted.
More detentions, more arrests, more stress for an already vulnerable community. We need to find a way to resolve this situation without pitting the tribe against the government or putting people in harm's way. Can't we just try to find some common ground? 
I'm so worried about Frank Star Comes Out and those three homeless tribe members... they must be going through such a stressful time 
. Sending you lots of love and positive vibes, OP 
I'm really worried about this situation with the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. It's just not right that these tribe members are being detained for exercising their rights as citizens of the United States 
. The fact that they were not given any info about the detainees' cases beyond their first names is crazy, like they're trying to play some kind of game with people's lives 
. We gotta make sure everyone is treated fairly, regardless of their background or status 
Anyway, I do hope the tribe gets those three members released ASAP and this whole ordeal blows over 
[Click here to read more about tribal sovereignty](https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2019/01/29/783406611/what-does-it-mean-to-be-sovereign)
I feel so sorry for Frank Star Comes Out and the Oglala Sioux Tribe - they're standing up for their rights and it's not going down well with the feds. I'm all about respecting tribal sovereignty and adhering to federal treaties, you know? It's like, we gotta have some boundaries set, right? 
.