Arizona residents who are Native American now have the option to display their tribal affiliation on state-issued identification, including driver’s licenses, following a bipartisan bill signed into law last year and implemented in January.
New Identification Option for Arizona Natives
The new designation functions similarly to indicators for organ donors or veterans. Applicants must verify their enrollment in a federally recognized tribe by submitting a Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB), an enhanced tribal card, or an affidavit of birth.
The initiative originated with Navajo Democratic state Rep. Myron Tsosie, who sought to simplify identification for Native Arizonans. He stated his intention was to make it easier for people to prove their heritage “instead of having to dig out all your cards to show that you are Native American.”
While Tsosie clarified that the bill, passed in May, was not directly related to increased immigration enforcement, he acknowledged hearing from constituents who “feel safer now with ICE being here,” particularly in cities like the Valley, Tucson, and Flagstaff.
The timing of the law’s implementation coincides with increased immigration enforcement impacting Indigenous communities, including the recent detention of Peter Yazzie, a Navajo man, by ICE agents in Peoria. A broader trend of Indigenous people being caught in immigration raids across the U.S. has also been reported.
Thomas Cody, executive director of the Navajo Nation’s Division for Child and Family Services, is encouraging Diné individuals living outside the Navajo Nation to utilize the designation. He expressed that while it is “unfortunate that we have to have an ID that we’re Native Americans,” he is “glad the state of Arizona…is taking an extra step.”
Sonlatsa Jim, Cody’s deputy director, highlighted the widespread presence of Navajo people, noting that the Navajo Nation is the largest Native American tribe and its members can be found throughout the United States.
Rep. Tsosie is now working with lawmakers in Utah and New Mexico to expand the legislation to cover a wider area of Indian Country, including the Navajo Nation’s 27,000-square-mile reservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is required to obtain the tribal affiliation designation?
Applicants must prove enrollment in a federally recognized tribe by submitting a Certificate of Indian Blood (CIB), an enhanced tribal card, or an affidavit of birth.
When did this new law go into effect?
The law went into effect in January.
Who initiated this legislation?
Navajo Democratic state Rep. Myron Tsosie sponsored the bill, which was signed into law last year.
As neighboring states consider similar legislation, will this initiative expand to offer greater recognition and potential protection for Native American communities beyond Arizona?
