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By Gabe Whisnant
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The Oglala Sioux Tribe is seeking answers after four enrolled members were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minneapolis.
Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out said in a statement on Facebook that the men, who were homeless and living near the Little Earth housing complex in Minneapolis, home to nearly 1,500 people, many of whom are Native American. The men were taken into custody without their names being recorded, the tribe said. Attorneys for the tribe have contacted Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to determine the men’s location and confirm their identities.
The tribe, based in South Dakota, said it is prepared to provide enrollment records to federal authorities and has issued guidance for members on what to do if detained.
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Tribe members are informed to say, “I am a citizen of the OGLALA LAKOTA NATION, a federally recognized Tribal Nation. Under the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, all Native people born within the territorial limits of the United States are recognized as U.S. citizens by birthright. Because I am both a Tribal citizen and a U.S. citizen, ICE has no lawful authority to detain me.”
Newsweek has reached out to ICE, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and the Oglala Sioux Tribe via email on Friday afternoon for comment.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has deployed thousands of federal officers to Minnesota as part of a sweeping immigration crackdown linked partly to a fraud scandal involving Somali residents. Homeland Security officials say more than 2,000 officers are participating in what they describe as the largest immigration enforcement operation in U.S. history. The surge has sparked protests in Minneapolis after an ICE officer fatally shot a woman on Wednesday.
Oglala Sioux Tribe: What to Know
The Oglala Sioux Tribe is a federally recognized Native American tribe based on the Pine Ridge Reservation in southwestern South Dakota. The reservation, one of the largest in the United States, spans more than 2.1 million acres and is home to thousands of enrolled members. The Oglala are part of the Lakota Nation, which is one of three major divisions of the Sioux people, and they maintain a strong cultural identity rooted in Lakota language, traditions, and governance.
Historically, the Oglala played a central role in the Plains Wars of the 19th century, including the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the defense of their treaty rights under the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868. Today, the tribe operates under a constitution approved in 1936 and exercises sovereignty through its elected government.
Nearly half of the Pine Ridge Reservation's residents live below the poverty line, with some estimates exceeding 50%, and unemployment rates have been reported as high as 80% to 89% (U.S. Census Bureau). Per capita income is among the lowest in the nation, around $8,768 (U.S. Census Bureau), and many families experience inadequate housing and limited access to healthcare, education, and infrastructure (Indian Health Service reports). These conditions contribute to chronic health issues and social challenges despite ongoing tribal efforts to improve economic development and quality of life.
Updates: 1/9/26, 7:54 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information.
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