Four members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe have recently become part of a troubling situation involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Currently, three of these individuals are detained at an ICE facility located at Fort Snelling, just south of the Twin Cities in Minnesota.
Historical Context of Fort Snelling
Fort Snelling holds a significant and tragic history. In 1862, following the U.S.-Dakota War, approximately 1,700 Indigenous individuals, including men, women, children, and elders, were imprisoned there. Many prisoners succumbed to torture, starvation, and disease during their captivity. The survivors were eventually forced into exile, relocated to reservations that today constitute parts of South Dakota.
The Current Detention of Oglala Sioux Members
- Four members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe detained.
- Three individuals remain incarcerated at the historical site.
- Detention is part of a broader ICE campaign affecting nonimmigrants.
This case highlights ongoing issues of racial profiling by ICE against Native American communities, emphasizing both historical injustices and modern-day challenges.
