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(Provided by Gigafact.)

Yes.

The federal government has enforcement authority over federal crimes like crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, even if they happen on tribal land. Tribal law enforcement officers generally have authority to detain and transfer people they’ve already stopped if they suspect an individual crossed into their jurisdiction illegally.

Tribal law enforcement officers can also be deputized to enforce federal law. Tribal police can be granted customs authority, for example, allowing them to share intelligence and assist with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigations. Border Patrol coordinates closely with tribal governments and often conducts joint patrols with tribal police. The agencies also share resources for border security operations, such as patrol vehicles or facilities.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

The Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.

References:

Correspondence with Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Nov. 12, 2024. Source link.

Border Security and Immigration Enforcement on Tribal Lands, Congress of American Indians, accessed in January 2025. Source link.

Border Security Partnership Agreements and Enhanced Oversight Could Strengthen Coordination of Efforts on Indian Reservations, United States Government Accountability Office, accessed in January 2025. Source link.

Support to Tribes at or near the U.S. Southwest Border Policy, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, March 12, 2024. Source link.

Type of Story: Fact-Check

Checks a specific statement or set of statements asserted as fact.

Carmela Guaglianone is a fact-checker for the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, working in partnership with Gigafact. More of her work here: https://azcir.org/news/author/cguaglianone/