South Dakota’s Oglala Sioux Tribe has warned federal officials that they must honor treaties and federal acts governing the tribe after reports that four tribal members were detained in Minnesota by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. One of the individuals has since been released, according to the tribe.
KeloLand news is reporting DHS said it has found no evidence that its officers arrested or encountered Oglala Sioux citizens and reported no detainees claiming that affiliation.
Tribal president Frank Star Comes Out criticized the situation, noting the historical weight of Fort Snelling, where the men were reportedly held, and emphasized that treaty rights remain legally binding today.
According to the tribe, federal officials told them they would need to sign an immigration agreement to receive information about the detainees—an agreement the tribe refuses to enter. Star Comes Out said the tribe, as a federally recognized sovereign nation, is entitled to information and that its citizens are U.S. citizens not subject to immigration enforcement.
DHS disputed the tribe’s account, saying ICE never requested such an agreement and only asked for basic identifying information to verify the claims.
The tribe’s memorandum, sent to several federal officials, cites multiple treaties and acts supporting its position and rejecting the immigration‑agreement requirement. Tribal leaders plan to hold a press conference Friday in Minnesota.
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