Native Organizers Alliance - The militarization of our communities puts all of us who live on Turtle Island at risk

 

Patricia, The Trump administration has asked Congress to expand the military budget to $1.5 trillion. That’s not over 10 years; that’s for just one year. Meanwhile, ICE's budget has skyrocketed during President Trump's second term already. As the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency in the country, it now has $85 billion at its disposal. They want more money for ICE too. ICE agents are now in at least 13 airports nationwide. They aren’t there to reduce wait times in line -- they’re not even allowed to help with that. No, ICE is in airports to intimidate people. This has already led to violence, including the arrest of a mother in front of her very scared and crying daughter. It’s yet another heartbreaking example of how Trump's inhumane immigration enforcement is terrorizing communities across the country. Congress created this problem. They can end it. Sign and send a message to Congress demanding an end to militarism in our communities now. SIGN AND SEND We’re constantly told there isn’t enough money to fully fund programs required in Nation-to-Nation treaties, like education, health care, housing, and nutrition. Yet there always seems to be money to spend on more weapons and wars and immigration policies that terrorize communities and tear apart families. There are many reports of Natives placed in ICE detention despite being citizens, including a 20-year-old Red Lake Nation member in Jan 2026 and another instance where a Tribal ID was claimed to look "fake." The Navajo Nation and Oglala Sioux Tribe have also reported Tribal members being caught up in raids in the Midwest and Arizona. As of 2021, the Dept. of Defense had transferred $7.4 billion in surplus military equipment to local police departments. A study from 2017 showed that officers from police departments that used military equipment were more likely to display violent behavior and kill civilians. That’s why no matter where you live, whether it’s a reservation, an urban neighborhood, a small rural town or the suburbs of a major city, the militarization of policing of our communities puts all who live on Turtle Island at risk. Please sign and send your letter demanding Congress focus and fund programs that provide for the resources needed to thrive instead of the weapons and policies that terrorize our communities now. Hawwih (thank you) for taking action today. Judith LeBlanc (Caddo) Executive Director POWER OUR MOVEMENT

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