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- By Native News Online Staff
The Native American Rights Fund is condemning what it calls unlawful actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying Native Americans and others are being racially profiled, unlawfully detained and subjected to excessive force.
In a statement, NARF said it stands with communities “whatever their country of birth” who are being separated from their families or violently apprehended while trying to protect their communities. The organization accused ICE of carrying out a campaign marked by warrantless arrests, racial profiling and a lack of accountability.
“Native Americans — the first peoples of this land — are among those being abducted and detained,” the organization said, adding that such actions violate treaties as well as the constitutional and civil rights of Native people.
NARF Executive Director John Echohawk said the organization is seeing Native Americans across Indian Country being illegally stopped, abused or detained by ICE agents.
“It is hard to miss the irony of locking up the first people of this land in an immigration sweep,” Echohawk said. “It’s indicative of the racial profiling that is happening, and we refuse to stand by while the United States government abducts Native people.”
The organization also said ICE agents are endangering people who are exercising their constitutional rights to protest and peacefully assemble.
“People are being illegally detained and brutalized based on the color of their skin, their name, or their accent,” said NARF Deputy Director Matthew Campbell. “Some are being terrorized for speaking out, protesting, or just observing federal agents. Native American rights are being trampled by federal agents, and there must be accountability for these actions.”
NARF said resources for individuals and organizations approached by ICE agents are available on its website at narf.org/ice-resources-2026/.
The organization is also urging tribal nations seeking training or support for leaders, employees or citizens to contact NARF. Native Americans who have been questioned, stopped, arrested or detained by ICE are also encouraged to reach out to the organization.
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