Mescalero Apache casino tribe member questioned by ICE agents

According to Mescalero Apache Tribal President Thora Walsh-Padilla, a Mescalero Apache tribal member was recently questioned by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) officers who requested a passport. Ruidoso, New Mexico's Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino is owned and run by the tribe.

Walsh-Padilla said in a prepared statement, “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 that the rights of Tribal Members are protected. To be safe, be aware of your surroundings, let family members/friends know where you are, and keep identification with you at all times.”

A family was removed outside when ICE authorities questioned them as they were waiting in line in front of a Mescalero Apache tribal member, the statement said. The tribal member responded that they spoke English when an ICE agent spoke to them in Spanish. The ICE agent then requested a passport from the tribal member, who then gave the agent their driver's license and tribal identity before concluding the interrogation and departing.

According to a Mescalero Apache statement, “We want to ensure that Mescalero Apache Tribal members can effectively communicate their rights and concerns in relation to federal agents, fostering resilience and solidarity among tribal members.”

The incident comes after President Donald Trump declared that further immigration enforcement actions would soon be undertaken.

The New Mexico Department of Justice has released guidelines to leaders of these vital spaces in response to President Trump's executive order that revokes long-standing federal protections for sensitive sites like courthouses, hospitals, churches, and schools. This policy shift, which reverses protections acknowledged by both the Democratic and Republican administrations, emphasizes how critical it is that local leaders comprehend their rights and obligations at the nexus of state and federal law.

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez wrote, “Our priority is to protect New Mexico’s families, especially children, from policies that create fear and destabilize communities. We are committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring public safety, but we must also safeguard the ability of families and children to access education, healthcare, and justice without fear of persecution.”

“I support enhanced border security and targeted enforcement operations focused on cartel members, violent criminals and anyone who represents a national security risk to our nation,” Attorney General Torrez added. “But rounding up children, crime victims and sick people is beneath the dignity of a great nation.”

Following the Trump Administration's threat of federal prosecution, the publications also offer crucial advice on how state and local officials should use their few resources for immigration enforcement. Attorney General Torrez, a former federal prosecutor who handled hundreds of immigration-related cases, said that threatening state and municipal authorities with federal prosecution not only confuses the law but also damages the credibility of a once-proud institution.

Buu Nygren, president of the Navajo Nation, issued a warning to Navajo residents of cities about possible encounters with immigration officials.

Source:

“ICE confrontation in Ruidoso rattles Mescalero Apache Tribe” , Nicole Maxwell, nmpoliticalreport.com, January 24, 2025.