Lawmakers introduce bill requiring ICE to recognize tribal IDs
Bipartisan legislation would require Department of Homeland Security personnel to receive training on recognizing tribal identification documents during immigration enforcement
Members of Congress introduced bipartisan legislation that would require Department of Homeland Security personnel to recognize and properly handle tribal identification documents during immigration enforcement activities, according to ICT. The Respect Tribal IDs Act was introduced by Reps. Sharice Davids, Don Bacon and Teresa Leger Fernández, along with Sen. Ben Ray Luján.
The bill would require DHS, in coordination with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal nations, to create standardized training on tribal citizenship, tribal IDs and protocols for interacting with enrolled tribal members. The legislation follows reports of Native Americans being questioned, delayed or detained after officers failed to recognize tribal identification as proof of U.S. citizenship. National Congress of American Indians Executive Director Larry Wright told ICT the legislation would help prevent confusion and improve interactions between federal agents and tribal citizens.
- 1.ICT, .
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