(Wind River Reservation, WY) – Both the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone Tribes issued statements on January 27 in response to local Tribal Members’ concerns regarding President Trump’s recent immigration crackdown.
Since the Trump administration has taken office, a number of executive orders and proclamations have been made as a part of President Trump’s deportation pledge for undocumented immigrants, which fueled concerns from the Indigenous community as it pertains to their sovereignty/citizenship and potential questioning/detainment by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, aka ICE.
In response to those local concerns and out-of-state accounts, the Northern Arapaho Business Council issued the following statement on January 26, and posted it to its Facebook page on January 27.
“The Northern Arapaho Business Council (NABC) has heard from Members who are concerned by recent actions taken by the current president and administration, and we are aware of reports nationally of Native individuals being hassled and even detained by federal immigration authorities in some communities. This is deeply troubling,” the statement reads. “We write to reassure the Northern Arapaho people of our unwavering commitment to our Tribe sovereignty and your safety and security.”
The statement goes on to share that the NABC called an emergency meeting on the matter with Tribal officials and a representative from BIA police last Friday “to voice our concerns (and) continue these conversations with local, state, and federal authorities.”
The NABC then advised Tribal Members to “carry proper identification at all times when in public in order to prevent possible questioning or detention by US Immigration Customs Enforcement agents.”
To help with this effort, the NABC also instructed the Northern Arapaho Enrollment Department to provide free Tribal IDs to all enrolled Members and descendants of the Tribe.
“We strongly urge that you have Tribal IDs for yourself, your children, and your entire family,” the release continues. “If federal authorities question you about your immigration status, please stay calm. Provide your state or Tribe-issued ID if you are able but remember you have the right to remain silent. In the event that you are arrested or taken into custody for whatever reason, immediately ask for access to an attorney to ensure your rights are protected.”
The NABC also stated it will closely monitor “all changes in federal policy, including executive orders, for any impacts on our Tribe, its people, and the Wind River Reservation,” and that they will “continue to provide accurate information and immediately alert Members to any issues or additional steps we believe should be taken for you and your families.”
“These are uncertain times, but the Northern Arapaho Tribe and its people will endure,” the release concludes.
Soon after the NABC’s letter was shared on social media, the Shoshone Business Council (SBC) for the Eastern Shoshone Tribe also issued a statement on their Facebook page.
“The Shoshone Business Council understands there are concerns among our community regarding threats to our sovereignty. We want to assure the Newe’ (Shoshone people) that we take these concerns very seriously and are committed to protecting our Fort Bridger Treaty of 1868 and self-governance,” the release states.
“While we don’t agree with many of the newly enacted policies, we will fight for our rights and be prepared to support our Tribal Members regardless of where they reside,” the notice continues, later referencing the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924.
“…we strongly oppose any arguments against that, and the attempt to rob us of our recognition as a sovereign Tribal Nation,” the statement continues. “We plan to stay informed in order to continue voicing our concerns with lawmakers at the state and federal level and ensure that our sovereignty remains strong. As the administration releases new executive orders, we will remain vigilant on the impacts they can have on our Tribal programs and resources.”
The SBC letter goes on to urge Tribal Members to carry their IDs at all times, and states that the Tribe will also issue free IDs.
“…we have given a directive to our Enrollment Office to provide new Tribal IDs to Tribal Members at no cost starting immediately,” the letter informs. “Certificates of Indian blood can also be provided to Tribal Members upon request, including those who live out of state.”
For Tribal Members looking for an ID, the post advises emailing enrollment@easternshoshone.org and including a “one-color background” passport-style photo, a signature, and to provide height, weight, and hair/eye color.
The SBC clarified in a separate comment on its Facebook page, that “Only in this instance is the SBC allowing the option to email a photo and signature for the Tribal ID or CIB,” and to call 307-332-3908 with additional questions.
“We stand with all Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities who have been here since time immemorial,” the release concludes.
While both Tribes have raised the above concerns, there have yet to be any confirmable instances of ICE conducting recent operations or raids in and around the Wind River Reservation or in Fremont County in response to the executive orders, or of an increase in local law agencies checking Tribal IDs.
County 10 received two tips from local residents stating they had heard unconfirmed, second-hand reports that local law enforcement was “checking Natives’ IDs.”
Chief Eric Hurtado shared that the Riverton Police Department has been “hearing the same rumors,” and advised that “Only people who have been stopped for traffic violations (Speeding, running a red light, etc) or suspected of committing a state or local criminal offense would be asked for ID.”
Chief Hurtado also stated that policing protocols have not changed in response to the executive orders.
“Although I cannot speak for other areas, the Riverton Police Department has not been contacted by any Federal Agency to change such practices.”
Chief Scott Peters from the Lander Police Department echoed Chief Hurtado’s comments, stating that any checking of Tribal ID’s for immigration purposes is “not true,” and that LPD “has not heard anything related to that” until he read County 10’s emailed questions.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs – Wind River agency and the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, have not replied to County 10’s information requests by the time of his publication.
County 10 also reached out to the Denver Field Office of ICE, but their office has yet to reply as of this writing as well. We will update this post with their comments if/when received.