Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Faces Backlash Over ICE Contract

Sun Dec 14 2025 04:13:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation's recent $30 million contract with ICE has ignited fierce criticism from Native American communities, highlighting tensions around federal contracts and immigrant detention centers.

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, displaced from the Great Lakes in the 1830s, is under fire for signing a federal contract with ICE to create designs for immigrant detention centers. Tribal leaders are now seeking to backtrack amidst accusations of betrayal from their own members, who highlight the historical trauma of imprisonment similar to their ancestors’ experiences. Economic pressures and federal policies are further complicating the tribal council's decisions.

MAYETTA, Kan. (Flux Daily News) — The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is facing intense backlash from Native American communities for its recent $30 million contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The deal, which aims to develop early designs for immigrant detention centers, has sparked outrage over its ethical implications given the tribe's own history of forced displacement from the Great Lakes region in the 1830s.

In response to widespread criticism, tribal leadership, including Chairman Joseph Zeke Rupnick, has announced intentions to terminate the contract, citing a desire for full transparency and alignment with the tribe's core values. The decision comes after accusations of betrayal by members who feel blindsided by the council's choices.

Rupnick's remarks in a video to tribal members highlighted the parallels between historical injustices faced by Native Americans and current detention practices. He emphasized, We must ask ourselves why we would ever participate in something that mirrors the harm and trauma once done to our people. The tribe has already terminated those involved in negotiating the ICE contract.

This recent contract follows Trump administration policies which facilitate sweeping immigration actions. The contentious issue is exacerbated by economic strain on tribal nations due to decreasing federal funding and rising operational costs, forcing some tribes to consider federal contracts that clash with their values.

The debate extends beyond the Prairie Band Potawatomi; other tribes, like the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, have also entered agreements with ICE, drawing skepticism from tribal members. Brittany McKane, a young citizen from the Muscogee Nation, expressed her disbelief that fellow tribes would engage with ICE, emphasizing the betrayal felt by many.

The desire for financial growth brings complexities for Native nations as they navigate relationships with federal agencies. Economic strategies may seek immediate revenue, but the moral implications foster a national conversation about the responsibilities of tribal governments to uphold their cultural integrity amid financial pursuits.

As this story develops, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation grapples with balancing economic pressures against their historical context, creating an essential dialogue surrounding indigenous identity and ethics in the modern era.