This story has been updated with additional information.

Alaska Natives in Juneau are rushing to obtain tribal IDs as claims of detentions by immigration officials are circulating widely following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House last week, but tribal and municipal leaders said Wednesday there are no confirmed reports of such detentions or presence of additional immigration enforcement officials.

About 115 tribal IDs were issued Tuesday to citizens of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, said Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson, the tribal council’s president, in an interview on Wednesday. The rush comes after tribal members, as well as Natives throughout Alaska and the U.S., were urged to obtain such identification and carry it on them at all times.

“That is incredibly not normal,” he said, referring to the number of IDs issued. “If we get a few people a day (that) is pretty normal.”

Tlingit and Haida issued a notice Tuesday stating that people wanting tribal IDs from the Juneau office on Wednesday would have to wait until 1 p.m.

“This is due to high demand for new and replacement Tribal IDs and limited supplies,” the notice states.

The concern is fueled by nationwide reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are detaining Native Americans as Trump pursues his promise of mass immigration roundups and deportations.

Such reports of Natives being detained in Juneau have been published on social media in recent days, including a now-disavowed Facebook post by Peterson on Tuesday night stating “In the last several days we’ve had several tribal citizens detained, their tribal IDs are saving them.” His comment also suggested Mayor Beth Weldon confirmed such incidents were occurring, but on Wednesday both told the Empire the post was based on incorrect and misunderstood information.

”It’s just unfortunate that we’re living in this time with all the rumors throwing around,” Weldon said. “As you know uncertainty breeds fear and then people get fearful.”

Peterson said his post, as well as others he’s made in recent days related to executive orders issued by Trump that may impact tribal operations and citizens, aren’t meant to be anti-Trump or alarmist.

“I’m worried about our tribal citizens,” Peterson said. “I’m not trying to incite fear. I realize that’s what happened, but that was not our intent.”

He also said “there are a litany of reasons that you should carry your tribal ID and everybody should have them.” Among other things, he said many of the people obtaining them Tuesday had older cards that didn’t have expiration dates, whereas the newer ones include dates reflecting the five-year validity of the ID.

In a subsequent Facebook post on Wednesday, Peterson noted “while we hope it never happens, if you are questioned or detained by law enforcement (including ICE), having your Tribal ID readily available can help establish your identity and your rights as an Indigenous person. It can also help prevent misunderstandings or misidentification.”

Concerns about detentions by immigration or other law enforcement officers are also being expressed by refugees from other countries such as Ukraine and Haiti who are living legally in Juneau, but are facing loss of their temporary protected status. Those concerns include students asking teachers for advice at schools, as well as adults contacting public officials and posting message on social media.

“Juneau schools are hearing from members of the community who are concerned about immigration enforcement activities impacting local schools,” a notice being published by the Juneau School District on its website and distributed to schools notes. “The Juneau School District (JSD) is not aware of enforcement efforts targeting our schools.”

“Schools are considered ‘non-public areas’ during the school day. JSD has established policies for allowing visitors in schools that prioritize student and staff safety and privacy. Policies and administrative regulations are regularly reviewed and updated. Schools control who enters school grounds while school is in session, and require permission of a parent, a warrant, or a court order for anyone to contact students or access confidential student records. School district personnel legally must cooperate with law enforcement executing a warrant or responding to an exigent or emergency circumstance.”

Two full-time U.S. Border Patrol officers were recently stationed full-time in Juneau — although officials said that stems from an effort that began in 2022 to boost drug enforcement efforts rather than immigration-related matters — plus a full-time U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who has been in Juneau for many years since the city is an official port of entry. However, local officials said Wednesday they were unaware of any detentions by those officers or the presence of any other officers with the agency now in Juneau for immigration enforcement.

“I would actually encourage the public (that) if you are contacted by somebody you feel is ICE or feel is a federal agent please call JPD,” Juneau Police Department Chief Derek Bos said. “If they’re not uniformed they will respect that, and we are happy to come and protect our citizens, and make sure that everything’s legit.”

Bos said JPD is not operating under any new policy or directives related to immigration matters since Trump took office a week ago Monday.

The department’s policy for foreign nationals states “JPD officers will not stop, detain, question, or arrest a person for violating federal immigration laws when there are no other charges against the person, unless the person is subject to a federal criminal arrest warrant that was signed by a magistrate or judge.”

JPD’s policy calls for ICE notification for criminal suspects likely to be incarcerated and/or with federal arrest warrants, among other circumstances. However, “undocumented individuals who are victims of a crime shall be assured that ICE is not normally notified if they wish to make a police report.”

An information release by JPD on Wednesday afternoon stated that “in response to the social media posts, JPD spoke with Homeland Security and FBI agents in Juneau and confirmed there are no ICE agents in Juneau.”

“If community members hear of this type of activity occurring, please ask the person providing the information to contact the Juneau Police Department to make a report,” the release states. “These reports can be made through the JPD non-emergency line at (907) 586-0600.”

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.