Indigenous Man Detained by ICE in Minneapolis

Incident highlights concerns over racial profiling and treatment of Native Americans by immigration authorities

Feb. 5, 2026 at 1:31am

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An Indigenous man named Jose Roberto 'Beto' Ramirez was recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis, despite insisting on his U.S. and tribal citizenship. Ramirez was beaten, detained, and sent to an ICE detention center before being released over six hours later without charges. This incident is part of a broader pattern of Indigenous people across the country being questioned and detained by ICE, which some have described as racial profiling.

Why it matters

The detention of Indigenous people by ICE raises concerns about racial profiling and the violation of civil liberties. The irony is that the current ICE detention center in Minneapolis is located on land that was previously used as a concentration camp to forcibly remove Indigenous peoples during the Dakota Wars, highlighting the historical context of these issues.

The details

Ramirez was tailed by ICE agents to a grocery store parking lot in Minneapolis, where he was then dragged from his vehicle, beaten, and detained. Despite insisting on his U.S. and tribal citizenship, he was sent to an ICE detention center for questioning before being released over six hours later without charges. Indigenous leaders in Minnesota have also reported that four homeless tribal members were detained by ICE agents in January, though the veracity of these claims has not been independently confirmed.

  • On January 8, Ramirez was detained by ICE agents in Minneapolis.
  • In January, four homeless tribal members were reportedly detained by ICE agents in Minnesota, according to the Oglala Sioux Tribe president.

The players

Jose Roberto 'Beto' Ramirez

An Indigenous man who was detained by ICE agents in Minneapolis despite insisting on his U.S. and tribal citizenship.

Frank Star Comes Out

The president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, who has made statements about four homeless tribal members being detained by ICE agents in Minnesota.

Native American Rights Fund

An organization that has called the detainment of Indigenous people by ICE in Minnesota a form of racial profiling.

U.S. Supreme Court

The court that granted an emergency request to allow ICE to stop and question anyone they think could be an illegal immigrant, even if the suspicion is based on skin color or language spoken.

Fort Snelling

A former concentration camp used to forcibly remove Indigenous peoples from their land during the height of Manifest Destiny migration, and the current location of an ICE detention center in Minneapolis.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.