ICE Tries to Deport Native American Woman

A Native American Woman was almost Deported after being caught up in Trump’s (R) Sweeping Immigration Crackdown. The U.S. Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) issued a Detainer for Leticia Jacobo, 24, who was born in Phoenix and is a Member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. She had been Arrested in September for Allegedly driving with a Suspended lLcense and was Due to be Released on Nov 11th.

However, just hours before, Her Mother, Ericka Burns, was told that instead of being Released, she would be taken into Federal Custody ahead of Her possible Deportation. An Immigration Detainer had been Issued more than a Week earlier, but neither Ms. Jacobs nor Her Family had been Informed.

Ms. Burns toke a Copy of Her Daughter’s Birth Certificate to the Jail, and Stayed on Site throughout the Night to make sure Her Daughter was not taken. Ms. Jacobs was eventually released in the early hours of Nov 12th.

Lt. Mark Chance, a Spokesman for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, which Oversees the Jail, said the ICE Detainer was a Result of “human error” and was intended for a different Detained Person. He called it a “silly” Mistake and said Internal Discussions would be held to Prevent it from Happening again in the Future.

Ms. Nunez said She was Sceptical that the ICE Detainer was the Result of a Clerical Mix-Up, noting that Ms. Jacobs had Her Tribal Identification Documents on Her, had been Fingerprinted, and previously Oetained in the same Jail. She suggested Discrimination had been Involved.

“I do want to say that it’s racial profiling because she’s been there before, they have a rap sheet on her - why would they make a mistake with someone that’s constantly coming in?” Ms Nunez asked. “I just hope it doesn’t ever happen to someone else, with them not knowing they’re going to get deported,” She said, adding that the Family was considering Legal Action.

The Incident Shines a Sharp Spotlight on Issues at the Heart of the Trump Administration’s Mass Deportation Campaign that has caught U.S. Citizens, including those from Tribal Nations, in its Net. Native Americans were gGanted U.S. Citizenship in 1924.

Since Trump returned to Office in January, 2025, He has been at the Helm of an Aggressive Agenda of Arrests and Forcible Removals of Undocumented Migrants, with a Focus on Democratic-led Cities with Sanctuary Policies. Native Americans, particularly those from the Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico, have Reported being Questioned, Harassed, or Detained, by ICE Agents as a Result of what they say is Racial Profiling.

In January, Congressional Democrats called on the Administration to Stop ICE from Targeting Indigenous Communities as part of the Raids. Last month, an Inquiry was Opened to Examine Reports of Misconduct of ICE Agents, Largely related to the Detainment of U.S. Citizens.










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