The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota has called for the immediate release of tribal members detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis. Three of the four detained individuals were transferred to an ICE facility at Fort Snelling following their arrest at a homeless encampment last week. President Frank Star Comes Out emphasized that tribal citizens are U.S. citizens by statute and citizens of the Oglala Sioux Nation by treaty, thus outside the jurisdiction of immigration laws.

Details surrounding the circumstances of their detention remain unclear. In a memorandum sent to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Star Comes Out noted that the tribe was only provided with the first names of the detained individuals and that further information would only be released if the tribe entered into an immigration agreement with ICE, which they have no intention of doing. Star Comes Out highlighted that the detained members were experiencing homelessness and living under a bridge in Minneapolis, with one member having been released from detention. He has demanded information regarding the status of the remaining detainees, their release, and a meeting with government officials.

Fort Snelling has a historical context that raises concerns for Indigenous people, as it was the first military outpost in the area and has a legacy of detaining Dakota people during the Dakota War of 1862. Nick Estes, an associate professor in American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota, described the facility's history as a continuation of violence against Indigenous populations. This incident is not isolated; there have been previous reports of ICE detaining tribal members, including incidents involving citizens from the Navajo Nation and other tribes. Indigenous rights groups have established resources in Minneapolis to assist tribal citizens in obtaining identification to present to ICE if approached. Mary LaGarde, executive director of the Minneapolis American Indian Center, emphasized the importance of having proper identification to avoid panic during such encounters.

In a related development, a coalition of labor unions and community organizations in Minneapolis has announced plans for a general strike scheduled for January 23, 2026. The strike aims to compel federal immigration agents from ICE to leave the city. The initiative, reported by Workday Magazine, is characterized as a day of 'no work, no school, no shopping.' JaNaé Bates Imari, a representative from Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church, emphasized the importance of community solidarity, stating that the day would be a collective refusal to engage in work or commerce for those who value truth and freedom.

Abdikarim Khasim, a rideshare driver in Minnesota, articulated the necessity of the strike, citing a pervasive atmosphere of hostility from the federal government. Several local unions, including the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1005, SEIU Local 26, UNITE HERE Local 17, CWA Local 7250, and the St. Paul Federation of Educators Local 28, have expressed their support for the strike. Additionally, the faith-based social justice group Faith in Minnesota has joined the effort.

The call for the strike follows the recent fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross, which has sparked widespread protests. Demonstrators have reported instances of federal agents using aggressive tactics against protesters and bystanders, raising concerns about the treatment of individuals during these confrontations. The situation highlights ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and the actions of federal agents in local communities.