First Nations Warn Members About U.S. Travel After Reports of ICE Detentions

First Nations leaders across Canada are issuing travel advisories urging members to exercise extreme caution when crossing the border into the United States, following multiple reports that Indigenous travellers have been stopped, questioned or detained by U.S. immigration officials, including agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The Blood Tribe Chief and Council in Alberta issued a formal advisory this week warning members to carry comprehensive documentation — such as a long-form birth certificate, Canadian passport and proof of “American Indian Blood” — because status cards alone have not always been accepted by U.S. authorities, according to the notice. Leaders stressed that this extra identification may help travellers demonstrate eligibility under historic treaties that guarantee cross-border movement for Indigenous peoples.

The advisory cited recent incidents in which Canadian status cards and tribal identification were reportedly not respected at U.S. border crossings, prompting concerns that entrenched rights under agreements like the Jay Treaty of 1794 — which historically allowed free movement for Indigenous peoples — are not being upheld. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Indigenous Services Canada have been briefed on these cases and are coordinating guidance for communities.

AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said the organization has received reports of negative encounters with ICE, where travellers were detained or questioned for extended periods before being returned to Canada. She said these actions could constitute violations of Indigenous inherent rights and has called on the U.S. administration to respect treaty-based mobility and treat Indigenous travellers equitably.

Other First Nations, including Kashechewan, Mississauga, Six Nations of the Grand River and Garden River First Nation, have issued similar warnings, urging their citizens to carry appropriate docum

entation, reconsider non-essential travel and remain vigilant. In some cases, evacuations due to unrelated emergencies have prompted First Nations communities to direct members to stay on the Canadian side of the border rather than risk crossing.

Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict confirmed at least one recent incident in which a First Nations man was detained by ICE and had his status card confiscated before being returned to Canada. Benedict described such stops as potentially targeted actions and warned communities of the heightened enforcement climate.

The situation has unfolded against a broader backdrop of increased ICE activity in parts of the U.S., including detentions of tribal citizens and heightened scrutiny at border crossings. Indigenous rights advocates argue that U.S. agents sometimes lack understanding of tribal ID systems and treaty rights, contributing to confusion and conflict during travel.

First Nations leaders are urging members to consult Global Affairs Canada and Indigenous Services for travel updates and documentation requirements and to prepare for additional evidence of identity and ancestry when crossing American borders. Many communities are also pushing for diplomatic dialogue to ensure that historical rights and modern travel practices are properly recognised and respected by both countries.