In a powerful and deeply personal recounting of her recent encounter with federal immigration authorities, 30-year-old Sophie Watso, a Mdewakanton Dakota woman, says she was detained for more than 48 hours by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minnesota - an experience she describes as confusing, traumatic, and rooted in a long legacy of Indigenous displacement and detention.
On January 14, 2026, Watso was monitoring immigration activity near Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, when several enforcement agents approached her vehicle. According to her account, the officers were wearing vests marked with “Police ICE,” but even that identification added to her uncertainty about who was detaining her.
Despite not resisting, Watso says she was accused of violating U.S. Code 18 Section 111, a federal statute often used to charge individuals accused of obstructing or interfering with federal officers - even U.S. citizens in certain circumstances. After shattering her truck’s windows to remove her, authorities transported her to the Bishop Henry Whipple Building at Fort Snelling, which is being used as a DHS detention and processing facility.
Watso’s case marks a striking and symbolic echo of Dakota history. More than 162 years after Mdewakanton ancestors were imprisoned at Fort Snelling during the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, where thousands were held under harsh conditions, she found herself in detention on the same grounds.
During the ordeal, Watso clutched her small dog, Modean, as agents forced her out of the truck - an image she says remains vivid. Her friends later located the frightened pet and took it to stay with her family while she remained in custody for over two days before her release on January 16.
Watso’s experience is not an isolated incident. Native and immigrant communities across the Twin Cities region have reported increased ICE and federal law enforcement presence, leading to widespread tensions and questions about community safety and civil rights. Studies show that many Native Americans are taking extra precautions, such as carrying tribal identification, out of fear of mistaken identity or wrongful detention.
Advocates say such encounters reflect a deeper challenge for Indigenous peoples: asserting their U.S. citizenship and tribal sovereignty in the face of federal enforcement practices that too often blur the lines between lawful oversight and discriminatory treatment.
Watso’s story highlights more than a single encounter with ICE - it underscores ongoing tensions between federal authority and Indigenous communities who have experienced detention, displacement, and injustice for generations. For many Native people today, a simple interaction with law enforcement can reopen historical wounds tied to forced removals and broken treaties.
If you or someone you know has been affected by similar issues, it’s essential to stay informed about your rights and legal protections.
Empower Native Voice stands with Indigenous communities in amplifying voices that often go unheard. Continue exploring perspectives that matter - from heritage to human rights.
Explore the collection here:
👉 Native Land, Native Voice Collection