Tribal Leaders Warn of ICE Harassment of Native Americans in Shawnee
- mike33692
- Jan 15
- 2 min read
Tribal Leaders Raise Alarm Over ICE Harassment of Native Americans in Shawnee
Tribal leaders in central Oklahoma are raising serious concerns over what they describe as ICE harassment of Native Americans, after reports surfaced of federal agents questioning and detaining tribal citizens in the Shawnee area.
Leadership with the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma says multiple tribal members have come forward claiming they were approached by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents without probable cause. In some cases, individuals say they were questioned about their citizenship status or asked to provide identification despite being enrolled tribal citizens.
ICE Harassment of Native Americans Raises Constitutional Questions
Absentee Shawnee Tribal Governor John R. Johnson strongly condemned the encounters, calling them unconstitutional and discriminatory.
Johnson said tribal citizens are being targeted based on skin tone, hair color, eye color, and appearance, rather than any lawful standard. He emphasized that Native Americans are not required to carry identification proving citizenship and cannot be detained solely based on racial or ethnic appearance.
Federal law recognizes tribal citizenship, and legal experts note that racial profiling by federal agents may violate constitutional protections under the Fourth Amendment. The U.S. Department of the Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs affirm that tribal members possess inherent sovereignty and legal status independent of immigration enforcement.
Tribal Governments Demand Accountability and Clarity
Tribal officials say they are seeking clarification from federal authorities and may pursue legal remedies if the reported conduct continues. The tribe is encouraging members to document encounters and report incidents to tribal leadership.
The situation comes amid heightened national debate over immigration enforcement tactics and federal-tribal relations. Advocates stress that ICE harassment of Native Americans undermines trust and threatens civil liberties.
For guidance, tribal members are being directed to consult resources from the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) regarding their rights during federal encounters.
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