Navajo Citizens Facing Identity Challenges During ICE Deportation Raids | Sovereignty
Category: News & Politics
Via: kavika • 2 days ago • 12 commentsBy: Levi Rickert (Native News Online)
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Details By Levi Rickert January 25, 2025
The Trump administration's intensified deportation efforts have created unexpected challenges for Navajo citizens living in urban areas like Phoenix. As the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began widespread raids in major cities across the country following the start of President Donald Trump's second term, concerns have surfaced about Native Americans being mistaken for undocumented immigrants.
On Friday, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren addressed these concerns during a broadcast on the tribal radio station KTNN. He reported receiving troubling accounts of Navajo citizens experiencing "negative and sometimes traumatizing encounters" with federal agents targeting undocumented individuals in the Southwest.
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President Nygren assured the Navajo Nation that his office is actively engaging with the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, as well as U.S. Senators, House representatives, and state officials to address the issue.
The Navajo Nation Office of Vital Records has been inundated with calls from tribal members residing off-reservation, many of whom report being questioned by ICE agents about their identity.
Arizona state Senator Theresa Hatathlie (Navajo), who represents Arizona's sixth senate district, highlighted a specific incident where a Navajo citizen was detained for nine hours. She stressed the urgent need for emergency protocols to protect tribal members.
Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley echoed the urgency, emphasizing the critical role of the Executive Branch in safeguarding tribal members living off-reservation. "Our people are reaching out to us directly, and their needs are urgent," Speaker Curley said. "We must act swiftly to ensure their safety and well-being. Our constituents are depending on us for solutions."
President Nygren advised Navajo citizens to be prepared when approached by ICE officers, emphasizing the importance of being proactive during these encounters.
"We are advising Navajo citizens to carry state-issued identification, such as a driver's license or other picture identification if available. Having your state ID is crucial, and if you possess a CIB (Certificate of Indian Blood), it can provide an additional layer of reassurance," President Nygren said.
Hatahlie stressed that many tribal members struggle with documentation, which has worsened under the recent ICE sweeps. Despite possessing Certificates of Indian Blood (CIBs) and state-issued IDs, several individuals have been detained or questioned by ICE agents who do not recognize these documents as valid proof of citizenship.
"Our office remains dedicated to provide accurate information and to assist any and all Navajo citizens who get caught up in immigration issues," President Nygren said."If you do run into issues with federal immigration officials, reach out to our office through Operation Rainbow Bridge."
The Operation Rainbow Bridge telephone number is 855-435-7672.
The 25th Navajo Nation Council encourages Navajo tribal members impacted by ICE raids to contact the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission Office at 928-871-7436.
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We all look alike and even with proper Federal ID customs doesn’t know it….It Arizona WTF are they thinking, I know they are brown and kinda red lets get’em they gotta be illegal.
The Navajo, Apache, Pueblo, Tohono tribal police should start arresting border and customs agent since the are illegal….
Would that be fun.
This is what is sickening about people who need to 'separate' others into 'lots.' People do 'comingle' in every society. That is, when found favorable and amenable - people begin to take on 'traces,' dress, styles, and even substantive features of those they 'gather' around. All of which is somewhat problematic when authorities are needing to find out 'definites.' It is the type and kind of confusion that authorities have tried to avoid. . .and now it appears to begin—rightly or wrongly.
While black Americans do not have the same 'set' of issues, there are different shades of Brown in the black community and some blacks are Hispanic from "the Islands," Nicaragua, and other nations. BTW, I'd imagine, there are hosts of illegals in this country from 'every' country. . . not just brown folks either. Whites Included!
What's it like to be treated like a foreigner living in your ancestral land. Where would you be deported to?
No deporting, Buzz perhaps they will try the old method that is killing us off.
There is a documentary that has been nominated for a number of Academy awards and it is shown here on Hulu and a couple of other stations. It’s entitled ‘’Sugarcane’’ and it takes place at a Canadian residential school. It is a true story and one of the actors was born there and his son is the producer. It is way beyond riveting and unless you have a very strong stomach it is very difficult to watch. Perhaps you can find it on something you can watch.
I watched the trailer for Sugarcane here:
LINK -> Sugarcane | National Geographic Documentary Films
But I doubt I will ever get the chance to watch the whole film.
Is orange skin acceptable?
I guess it is, Trump is orange.
Not a lot of interest in original Americans being detained cuz we all look like Hispanics.
I think you should all be sent back to where you came from!
Oh, wait...
A white guy was shouting at an Indian to go back to to where you came from, so the Indian gathered up his family and moved into the guys house.
Lesson learned.
Back to 2020! 'Show me your papers, please."
People get over Trump already! The man is a DIVIDER: Plain and Simple. His abrupt style of doing 'everything' is by definition "DIVISIVE." But surely Congress sat on its collective butts playing "do nothing" politics and left the path/door open for Trump to just appear and takeover they 'place.'