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Oglala Sioux Tribe members detained by ICE in Minneapolis encampment, tribe refuses enforcement agreement

Jan 14, 2026 · Minneapolis, MN

On January 13, 2026, ICE agents detained multiple enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, including at least three to four Oglala Lakota men, during a sweep of a homeless encampment near the Little Earth housing complex in Minneapolis. Three detainees were transferred to an ICE facility at Fort Snelling. The Oglala Sioux Tribe asserted that enrolled members are U.S. citizens by statute and fall outside immigration jurisdiction. Federal officials refused to provide information about the detainees unless the tribe agreed to an immigration enforcement agreement with ICE and DHS. Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out and the tribe publicly rejected this condition, stating they would not compromise tribal sovereignty or authorize ICE operations on tribal land. The tribe contacted Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to locate the detainees and issued guidance to members on asserting their citizenship rights.

Timeline

Jan 14, 2026Oglala Sioux Tribe rejected DHS condition to agree to immigration enforcement agreement in exchange for information about detainees; tribe asserted enrolled members are U.S. and tribal citizens outside immigration jurisdiction
Jan 14, 2026Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out and tribe contacted Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan; tribe issued guidance to members on asserting citizenship rights
Jan 13, 2026ICE agents conducted sweep of homeless encampment in Minneapolis and detained multiple enrolled members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe; three detainees transferred to ICE facility at Fort Snelling

Sources

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