In brief
The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, historically affected by forced relocations, is under scrutiny for a $30 million contract with ICE to design immigrant detention centers. Tribal leaders are facing backlash, resulting in the firing of key economic development officials. Chairman Joseph Rupnick addresses the criticism, emphasizing the tribe's past trauma. The contract has raised questions about federal procurement practices and the ethical implications of tribal involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
MAYETTA, Kan. (AP) — The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, whose ancestors were uprooted by the U.S. from the Great Lakes region in the 1830s, are facing outrage from fellow Native Americans over plans to profit from another forced removal: President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign.
A newly established tribal business entity quietly signed a nearly $30 million federal contract in October to come up with an early design for immigrant detention centers across the U.S. Amid the backlash, the tribe says it’s trying to get out of it.
Tribal leaders and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security haven’t responded to detailed questions about the process of selecting the contracting firm, KPB Services LLC, established by a former naval officer who markets himself as an adviser for tribes seeking federal contracts.
The criticism has been so intense that the tribe announced the firing of the economic development leaders who brokered the deal. “We are known across the nation now as traitors and treasonous to another race of people,” said Ray Rice, a 74-year-old tribal member.
ICE Contracts Under Scrutiny
Tribal Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick promises “full transparency” regarding the situation. He has indicated that the tribe is discussing legal options to terminate the contract, recalling a history of governmental oppression that affected their ancestors. “We know our Indian reservations were the government’s first attempts at detention centers,” he stated.
The scrutiny extends beyond the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. Other tribal entities, such as one owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, have similar multimillion-dollar contracts with ICE, raising ethical concerns within Indigenous communities.
Economic Pressures Faced by Tribes
Economic pressures from dwindling federal funding and high inflation are pushing tribes to explore various revenue avenues, some of which conflict with their core values, according to Indigenous rights advocates.
The contract's initial award was for $19 million, increasing to $29.9 million after modifications, inviting further questioning concerning federal contracting norms.
Backlash and Leadership Accountability
The Tribal Council's awareness of the contract remains unclear as officials have not answered press inquiries regarding accountability. The controversial lead, Ernest C. Woodward Jr., has historical ties to tribal acquisitions but remains elusive.
As tribal members express their disbelief over the dealings, advocates like Carole Cadue-Blackwood from the Kickapoo Tribe voice their opposition to the participation in federal deportation efforts. “I’m in just utter disbelief that this has happened,” she lamented.
