Tribal IDs and REAL IDs do not confirm U.S. Citizenship. That’s a Problem.
Ginny Underwood is executive director of Rock The Native Vote and a citizen of the Comanche Nation.
by Ginny Underwood | March 19, 2026
If I were stopped by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or a federally deputized trooper from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, neither my Tribal ID nor a REAL ID would prove I am a U.S. citizen.
That’s the reality many don’t see. We hear it all the time from community members who believe their Tribal ID will be enough.
In my role as executive director for Rock The Native Vote, a non-partisan voter engagement organization, we have worked to partner with Tribal enrollment offices to host pop-up ID events helping Tribal citizens obtain or renew their Tribal IDs.
Tribal IDs matter. They are valid for registering and voting in Oklahoma. They represent sovereignty, identity, and belonging. But they do not prove U.S. citizenship.
For example, my tribe, the Comanche Nation, determines citizenship through lineage. We have Tribal members who live around the world, born in different countries but qualify as a Tribal citizen under our constitution. Enrollment officers cannot certify those members are also a U.S. citizen.
Our research did not identify any tribally issued ID that explicitly affirms U.S. citizenship. This includes enhanced Tribal IDs offered by some of the larger Tribes in Oklahoma. At face value, law enforcement officers have no reliable way to determine whether these enhanced IDs are subject to the same vetting standards as passports, such as background checks or in-person interviews.
In testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on December 17, 2025, Tribal leaders reported documented cases of wrongful detention and raised concerns about racial profiling. In one instance, ICE agents reportedly dismissed valid, federally recognized Tribal IDs as “fake.”
Beyond Tribal IDs, federal courts have held state-issued driver’s license and ID cards prove identity but not citizenship. Most IDs only confirm lawful presence within a state.
The most widely accepted documents to prove U.S. citizenship are a U.S. passport, passport card, or a certified birth certificate. For many Indigenous families these options are financially out of reach. The average fee for a passport book is approximately $165, even when providing your own photo. The passport card is more affordable; the cost still presents a barrier for families with multiple children.
This is an issue Indigenous families must take seriously. Native Americans are often treated as “immigrant adjacent” in enforcement situations. Indigenous leaders in Minneapolis reported that during ICE crackdowns in January 2026, community members were racially profiled, detained and afraid to leave their homes for weeks.
Preparation is one of the strongest tools communities have. Obtaining official proof of U.S. citizenship is a critical step in protecting families.
The Comanche Nation has begun the process to offer enhanced IDs to Tribal members but it will be two years before that service is in place. In the meantime, as a Comanche citizen, I am preparing resolutions that will:
If I were stopped by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or a federally deputized trooper from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, neither my Tribal ID nor a REAL ID would prove I am a U.S. citizen.
That’s the reality many don’t see. We hear it all the time from community members who believe their Tribal ID will be enough.
In my role as executive director for Rock The Native Vote, a non-partisan voter engagement organization, we have worked to partner with Tribal enrollment offices to host pop-up ID events helping Tribal citizens obtain or renew their Tribal IDs.
Tribal IDs matter. They are valid for registering and voting in Oklahoma. They represent sovereignty, identity, and belonging. But they do not prove U.S. citizenship.
For example, my tribe, the Comanche Nation, determines citizenship through lineage. We have Tribal members who live around the world, born in different countries but qualify as a Tribal citizen under our constitution. Enrollment officers cannot certify those members are also a U.S. citizen.
Our research did not identify any tribally issued ID that explicitly affirms U.S. citizenship. This includes enhanced Tribal IDs offered by some of the larger Tribes in Oklahoma. At face value, law enforcement officers have no reliable way to determine whether these enhanced IDs are subject to the same vetting standards as passports, such as background checks or in-person interviews.
In testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on December 17, 2025, Tribal leaders reported documented cases of wrongful detention and raised concerns about racial profiling. In one instance, ICE agents reportedly dismissed valid, federally recognized Tribal IDs as “fake.”
Beyond Tribal IDs, federal courts have held state-issued driver’s license and ID cards prove identity but not citizenship. Most IDs only confirm lawful presence within a state.
The most widely accepted documents to prove U.S. citizenship are a U.S. passport, passport card, or a certified birth certificate. For many Indigenous families these options are financially out of reach. The average fee for a passport book is approximately $165, even when providing your own photo. The passport card is more affordable; the cost still presents a barrier for families with multiple children.
This is an issue Indigenous families must take seriously. Native Americans are often treated as “immigrant adjacent” in enforcement situations. Indigenous leaders in Minneapolis reported that during ICE crackdowns in January 2026, community members were racially profiled, detained and afraid to leave their homes for weeks.
Preparation is one of the strongest tools communities have. Obtaining official proof of U.S. citizenship is a critical step in protecting families.
The Comanche Nation has begun the process to offer enhanced IDs to Tribal members but it will be two years before that service is in place. In the meantime, as a Comanche citizen, I am preparing resolutions that will:
- Request financial assistance for Tribal citizens to obtain passports or passport cards;
- Explore processes to verify U.S. citizenship where possible; and
- Consider adding language to Tribal IDs that affirms citizenship status when verified.
National Voter Registration Day Event Tackles Oklahoma’s Voter Turnout Crisis
In the 2024 Presidential election, Oklahoma had one of the lowest voter turnout rates in the country, with only 53% of eligible voters casting ballots, according to a report from the University of Florida.
“With annual voter roll purges, strict ID requirements, and early registration deadlines, too many Oklahomans—especially from marginalized communities—are being left out of the democratic process,” said Ginny Underwood (Comanche), Executive Director of Rock The Native Vote.
Rock The Native Vote and partner organizations are hosting a non-partisan National Voter Registration Day celebration on Tuesday, September 16, from 6–8 p.m. at the Wheeler Park Ferris Wheel, 1701 S. Western Avenue, Oklahoma City.
“Our goal is to create a welcoming space where diverse community members can learn about the political process and the power of their vote,” said Underwood. “Our voters, regardless of race, face common concerns and shared challenges, and by working together, we have a greater chance of building lasting and equitable change.”
The free event will feature live music from the Chebon Tiger Blues Band, free food vouchers for Indian tacos and snow cones (first-come first-served), informational booths, and a prize wheel with giveaways including Ferris Wheel tickets and t-shirts.
Volunteers will be on site to assist with voter registration and voter status checks, with information provided in both English and Spanish.
The celebration is a nonpartisan event open to the entire community. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to enjoy the performances comfortably. Candidates interested in attending are welcome. For opportunities to speak, please contact [email protected].
Community sponsors include: The Foundation for Liberating Minds, Let’s Fix This, ACLU of Oklahoma, Build Oklahoma, Oklahoma Democratic Party, and Latinos Unidos at OU.
“Our state can no longer sit at the bottom when it comes to voter participation,” said Underwood. “This event is about breaking down barriers so every voice can be heard.”
“With annual voter roll purges, strict ID requirements, and early registration deadlines, too many Oklahomans—especially from marginalized communities—are being left out of the democratic process,” said Ginny Underwood (Comanche), Executive Director of Rock The Native Vote.
Rock The Native Vote and partner organizations are hosting a non-partisan National Voter Registration Day celebration on Tuesday, September 16, from 6–8 p.m. at the Wheeler Park Ferris Wheel, 1701 S. Western Avenue, Oklahoma City.
“Our goal is to create a welcoming space where diverse community members can learn about the political process and the power of their vote,” said Underwood. “Our voters, regardless of race, face common concerns and shared challenges, and by working together, we have a greater chance of building lasting and equitable change.”
The free event will feature live music from the Chebon Tiger Blues Band, free food vouchers for Indian tacos and snow cones (first-come first-served), informational booths, and a prize wheel with giveaways including Ferris Wheel tickets and t-shirts.
Volunteers will be on site to assist with voter registration and voter status checks, with information provided in both English and Spanish.
The celebration is a nonpartisan event open to the entire community. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to enjoy the performances comfortably. Candidates interested in attending are welcome. For opportunities to speak, please contact [email protected].
Community sponsors include: The Foundation for Liberating Minds, Let’s Fix This, ACLU of Oklahoma, Build Oklahoma, Oklahoma Democratic Party, and Latinos Unidos at OU.
“Our state can no longer sit at the bottom when it comes to voter participation,” said Underwood. “This event is about breaking down barriers so every voice can be heard.”