MAYETTA, Kan. — The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, a tribe historically displaced from their homeland in the Great Lakes region during the 1830s, is facing significant backlash from fellow Native Americans over its recent decision to engage with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This controversial involvement includes a nearly $30 million federal contract to design immigrant detention centers throughout the nation.
The backlash was swift and fierce, with many within the tribe accusing leadership of acting against their values and the historical injustices suffered by Indigenous peoples. Tribal leaders, responding to this criticism, have reportedly dismissed the economic development officials responsible for this contract.
Ray Rice, a prominent tribal member, expressed the collective sense of betrayal felt by many, stating, “We are known across the nation now as traitors and treasonous to another race of people…we must ask ourselves why we would ever participate in something that mirrors the harm and the trauma once done to our people.”
Tribal Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick vowed full transparency and indicated that legal counsel is being consulted to explore ways to terminate the contract. He noted that the tribe's own history echoes the experiences of today's immigrants, as they too were once forcibly relocated.
The contract originally awarded by ICE in October aimed at creating early designs for processing and detention centers but faced scrutiny for being a non-competitive, sole-source contract that contradicted federal regulations and transparency standards necessary for public trust in procurement processes.
Legal experts have called into question the ethics behind forming such alliances with federal entities amid a backdrop of widespread condemnation against the treatment of immigrants. Concurrently, economic pressures are rising on tribes as federal funding decreases, pushing them toward potentially misaligned opportunities.
As conversations about this contract unfold, concern grows over the implications it carries for Native communities and their historical legacy. Carole Cadue-Blackwood, another concerned tribal member, expressed disbelief at the tribe's decisions and the potential normalization of collaborations with ICE.
This conflict highlights the intersection of economic survival and ethical integrity among Indigenous nations, presenting a critical moment for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation as they navigate these challenging waters.
