Overview
- Austin Lowe, chair of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, condemned recent ICE actions as intimidation and racial profiling that erode public trust and disregard tribal sovereignty.
- The Sault Tribe urged members to carry tribal and state IDs, to remain silent except to request an attorney if stopped, and to note that agents need a judicial warrant to enter homes or nonpublic tribal spaces.
- Bay Mills Indian Community issued a separate advisory directing members to keep current tribal IDs and backup documents like passports or state IDs, and outlining how to respond in public, at home, and in tribal buildings.
- ICT reported that at least five Native American tribal members were detained during ICE operations in Minneapolis despite being U.S. citizens under federal law.
- Leaders shared assistance resources for wrongful detentions, including the National Immigration Detention Hotline, an ICE phone access code, and the Sault Tribe Legal Department contact.