A federal court has ordered the release of a man detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on tribal land in Oregon. The arrest took place in the parking lot of the Seven Feathers Resort Casino in Canyonville, which is owned by the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians. It is the first publicly known case of an immigration detention on tribal land in the state.
A Department of Homeland Security representative confirmed that the detainee is from Mexico and was the subject of a “targeted operation.” According to the department, he had previously voluntarily left the United States three times—twice in 1998 and once in 2000—before illegally reentering the country. It is not known whether the man is a tribal member or was merely visiting the casino. Authorities also did not say whether the agents had an arrest warrant or on what grounds ICE acted on tribal land.
Tribal sovereignty means that a tribe recognized by the federal government retains its own self-government, courts and rules within its territory. At the same time, tribal lands are not fully independent states: their powers are limited by federal law and treaties. In principle, ICE may enforce U.S. immigration laws on tribal land as well, but the agency’s access and the procedures for conducting operations may depend on agreements with the tribe, warrant requirements and rules protecting tribal jurisdiction. As a result, the legality of a detention depends on the specific circumstances, not merely on the fact that it occurred on tribal land.
On the same day the man was detained, a federal court ordered his release from immigration custody pending completion of his deportation proceedings. Such same-day decisions are rare, but under the administration of Donald Trump, the number of habeas corpus petitions challenging the legality of detentions has risen sharply: since January 2025, attorneys in Oregon have filed 62 such petitions, compared with one in 2019. Attorney Lorena Reynolds, who represents a person identified by the initials HBR, cited a protective court order and did not confirm that the case involved the man detained at the casino.
The case has raised concerns among Indigenous people and civil rights advocates over the sovereignty of tribal territories. Some tribes are urging residents to carry identification documents and immediately report the presence of ICE agents. Others have taken a firmer position. For example, the Tulalip Tribes in Washington state maintain that federal immigration authorities have no jurisdiction over their citizens, citing their right to regulate matters affecting community members independently. Under U.S. law, however, tribal membership generally does not by itself exempt a person from federal immigration law. Tribal approaches vary: some cooperate with federal authorities or recognize their powers, while others challenge ICE actions or take a cautious position based on treaties and the specific circumstances.
The Native American Rights Fund called such detentions violations of treaty, constitutional and civil rights, warning of racial profiling and the unlawful detention of Indigenous people.
Based on: Federal judge orders release of man arrested by ICE on Oregon tribal land