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- By Native News Online Staff
Happy Monday! Here are some stories you may have missed over the weekend:
Native Americans Are U.S. Citizens. Here’s What to Do If ICE Stops You
On Friday, the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) released a guide that explains your rights if approached by ICE at home, work, in public, or during detention.
ICE generally needs a valid judicial warrant signed by a judge to enter private spaces, including homes and non-public workplaces. You have the right to remain silent, refuse consent to searches, and ask for a lawyer. Do not open the door or sign anything without legal advice. You may show state or Tribal ID to prove citizenship. Minors have the same rights as adults. If detained, stay calm, request a lawyer, and document what happened after release. Safety planning is strongly recommended.
We are publishing this guiide for your safety and ask you spread to your family, friends, and tribal community.
Early Thursday morning, a Red Lake Nation descendant and U.S. citizen, Jose Roberto Ramirez, 20, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis.
The encounter was posted on Facebook by a relative. The arrest came about just a day after an ICE agent fatally shot U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis during a separate immigration enforcement operation.
Ramirez, who was born in Minneapolis, called his aunt, Shawntia Sosa-Clara, after he realized he was being followed by federal agents. He pulled into a Hy-Vee parking lot in Robbinsdale and Sosa-Clara met him there, then called Robbinsdale police. Only ICE agents were involved in the detention, and Robbinsdale Police Capt. John Elder said his officers “had nothing to do with the arrest. Our officers had no interactions with the detainee.”
Former Rep. Mary Peltola Exploring Run for Alaska Senate
Native Vote 2026. According to Axios, former Congresswoman Mary Peltola (D- AK) is interviewing potential campaign managers as she prepares for a possible challenge to Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in this year’s U.S. Senate election.
Peltola, a member of the Yup’ik community, made history when she won a 2022 special election following the unexpected death of Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), who had held the seat for 49 years. She secured a full term later that year after defeating Begich and former Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, who also served as governor of Alaska from 2006 to 2009. She lost her reelection bid in 2024. Her voting record is publicly available.
She faces strong criticism from Alaska Republicans, with the Alaska GOP maintaining a “Peltola Files” section accusing her of opposing border security, supporting reduced penalties for violent crime, missing votes, and backing progressive social policies. Democrats, however, largely support Peltola, with some urging her to run for governor. Her past campaigns emphasized Democratic priorities such as support for Alaska Natives, labor unions, expanded childcare and healthcare access, environmental protections, education funding, and veterans’ programs.
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