Randall Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Wrongful Detention of Native Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Congresswoman Emily Randall (D, WA-06), joined Representatives Sharice Davids (D, KS-03), Don Bacon (R, NE-02), and Teresa Leger Fernández (D, NM-03) in introducing the bipartisan Respect Tribal IDs Act to improve how Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel recognize and interact with Tribal identification documents during immigration enforcement. The legislation comes amid growing reports of Native Americans being questioned, delayed, or detained after federal ICE officers failed to recognize valid Tribal IDs and documentation as proof of citizenship. 

“ICE and Border Patrol agents continue to attack, target, and detain individuals based on the color of their skin,” said Rep. Randall. “Native Americans across the country have been racially profiled to the point where Tribal members in my district are afraid to send their kids to school without their Tribal IDs – and even then – ICE continues to disregard official Tribal documents and detains them anyway. This bill would require DHS to develop standardized training for all agents when interacting with Indigenous communities to end these dehumanizing and racist interactions.”  

The Respect Tribal IDs Act would require DHS, in coordination with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Tribal Nations, to develop standardized training for officers and employees involved in immigration enforcement. The training would include how to identify Tribal documents, when Tribal IDs qualify as proof of U.S. citizenship, proper protocols for interacting with enrolled Tribal members, and the federal government’s trust responsibility to Tribal Nations. 

The bill also requires DHS to create region-specific guidance and reference materials for officers, including examples of Tribal IDs used by federally recognized Tribes in areas where agents operate. Officers would be required to complete the training annually and whenever they are reassigned to a new region.

Rep. Randall called attention to ICE’s treatment of Tribal members at a field hearing in Minnesota following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Nicole Good earlier this year: “We all are hearing from Tribal members, including those in my district as well as Native people across Minnesota and across the country, that ICE is illegally detaining and targeting Native people for the color of their skin. Tribal members are being detained as leverage to convince Tribal Nations to sign agreements with ICE for enforcement on their sovereign territory.”

A video recording of Rep. Randall’s remarks from that hearing are available HERE. 

The legislation follows multiple high-profile incidents and reports involving Native Americans whose Tribal documentation was reportedly rejected or questioned during federal enforcement encounters. Tribal leaders and advocates have raised concerns that inconsistent training and lack of familiarity with Tribal IDs have contributed to wrongful stops and confusion involving U.S. citizens, particularly in border states and regions with large Native American populations. The legislation seeks to establish clearer standards and prevent future incidents by ensuring federal personnel are properly trained before conducting enforcement activities.

“The National Congress of American Indians supports this legislation to ensure that federal agents within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are properly trained to recognize and respect Tribal identification documents,” said Larry Wright, Executive Director, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). “Too often, the lack of consistent training has led to confusion, delays, and the improper treatment of Tribal citizens. By requiring comprehensive training on Tribal IDs, this bill affirms the validity of Tribal governments and strengthens the federal trust responsibility. NCAI urges its passage to promote respectful interactions, enhance security, and uphold the rights of Tribal citizens.”

“We’ve seen federal immigration agents reject valid Tribal IDs and question the citizenship of Native people — something that should never happen,” said John E. Echohawk, Executive Director, Native American Rights Fund. “Tribal IDs are official documents issued by sovereign Tribal Nations and must be recognized as such. The Respect Tribal IDs Act provides a common-sense, bipartisan fix by ensuring agents are properly trained to identify and accept these documents and understand the federal trust responsibility. We strongly support Sharice Davids’ leadership on this issue, alongside the National Congress of American Indians. This bill will help prevent unlawful detentions and protect Native citizens.”

As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and its Subcommittees on Indian and Insular Affairs and Federal Lands, Congresswoman Emily Randall has been a champion for protecting Tribal sovereignty. In her first year in Congress, Randall passed two bills to initiate the first step to place land into trust for the Quinault Indian Nation and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. 

Rep. Randall has also introduced legislation to expand funding opportunities for Tribes neighboring military installations, and introduced the Helping Our People Act of 2026, or “kʷaxʷad tiiɫ ʔiišədčəɫ,” in the Native Twulshootseed language, to correct a longstanding inequity that currently prevents the Puyallup Tribe from withdrawing and directly managing its Permanent Trust. 

In March 2026, Rep. Randall spoke out against ICE racially profiling Tribal citizens during a bicameral Oversight Shadow Hearing: “I’ve had Tribal citizens tell me they’re sending their kids to school with their Tribal ID’s on them out of safety and fear,” said Rep. Randall. “And when Tribal members showed their Tribal ID’s to ICE and CBP, those officers lack any understanding of Tribal ID cards.” 

A video of Rep. Randall’s remarks from that hearing are available HERE.