EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Mescalero Apache Tribe said that one of its members was approached by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in a public place in Ruidoso and was briefly questioned earlier this week.
That’s according to a statement posted on the Tribe’s website.
The incident happened at about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 in Ruidoso, according to the Tribe.
ICE agents began questioning a family standing in line in front of the tribal member and the family was escorted outside of the public place, the Tribe said.
The Tribe did not say exactly where the incident happened.
Then, the ICE agent, “still inside the public place,” approached the tribal member in Spanish. The tribal member responded by saying they spoke English. The ICE agent then asked the tribal member for a passport.
The tribal member presented a New Mexico driver’s license and a tribal identification card, the Tribe said.
The ICE agent did not continue questioning and then exited the encounter, the Tribe said.
“While this is the only incident we have been able to verify, Tribal leadership is actively working with the New Mexico Congressional Delegation to ensure the rights of Tribal Members are protected,” said Tribal President Thora Walsh-Padilla on the Tribe’s website.
The Tribe advised its members to keep identification on them at all times and if possible, carry multiple forms of identification, including driver’s license, state-issued identification card, tribal identification card and certificate of Indian blood.
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