In Minnesota, recent immigration enforcement actions have reportedly resulted in the arrest of several Native Americans, leading to allegations of racial profiling by federal agents. Four members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe were detained, with three remaining in federal custody, according to Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out. Additionally, a member of the Red Lake Nation, Jose Roberto "Beto" Ramirez, was forcibly removed from a vehicle by federal officers in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, and held for approximately ten hours.

Native Americans are recognized as U.S. citizens, possessing dual citizenship under both federal and tribal laws. However, tribal leaders have expressed concerns that federal officers are unlawfully detaining Native Minnesotans based on racial characteristics or assumptions regarding their immigration status. Minnesota's Lieutenant Governor, Peggy Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Nation, criticized the racial profiling occurring within the community, emphasizing the long-standing presence of Native peoples in the region.

In a letter to officials in the Trump administration, the Oglala Sioux Tribe asserted that the detention of tribal members violates treaties, federal law, and constitutional protections. The tribe's memorandum highlighted that tribal citizens are not subject to immigration enforcement, as they are recognized as U.S. citizens by statute and citizens of their respective tribes by treaty.

The detention center where some tribal members are held is located at Fort Snelling, a site historically associated with the imprisonment of Indigenous peoples during the Dakota War of 1862. This historical context underscores the ongoing relevance of treaty obligations and federal accountability in contemporary enforcement actions.

State lawmakers from the Minnesota Native American Caucus condemned the arrests, stating that the actions represent a direct assault on Indigenous sovereignty and due process. They emphasized that Native peoples have inhabited the continent for thousands of years, making the deportation of tribal members both impossible and unjustifiable.

In response to inquiries about the enforcement actions, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed that the arrests were targeted, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) focuses on detaining individuals unlawfully present in the country, without addressing concerns about the potential for wrongful arrests of U.S. citizens.