Immigration laws don’t always account for the unique legal status of Native peoples, especially those from tribal nations that cross international borders. Combine that with an increase in profiling and false immigration reports and arrests, and you find a whole of Native students who are struggling to handle their education, and the law, at the same time.
Tribal ID Cards are more than just identification, they are a statement of sovereignty and legal recognition. However, recent changes to immigration policy make them so much more: a vital indication of your right to be on your homeland. Recently, some Native peoples have faced difficulties with immigrations officers who assume that they are illegal immigrants, with multiple going so far as to be deported to countries they’ve never been to.
That’s why it is imperative that you carry your Tribal ID at all times – when it comes to combatting profiling, sometimes the best offense is a good defense.
