Today, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it will not hear a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), six months after the Minnesota Supreme Court declined to address constitutional challenges to ICWA and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA).

For nearly 50 years, ICWA has been considered the gold standard in child welfare policy for Indian children and families. Today’s decision is unsurprising given that the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of this protective law in Haaland v. Brackeen in 2023, and we are pleased that the Court rejected another unwarranted attack on ICWA. Today’s denial of certiorari supports the best interests of Native children, families, and communities.

ICWA is a cornerstone of federal Indian law and is supported by numerous state statutes, like MIFPA, designed to implement it. The Protect ICWA Campaign will continue to defend these critical laws in the interest of Native children and Tribal Nations. 

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The Protect ICWA Campaign (the Campaign) was established by four national Native organizations: the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the National Congress of American Indians, the Association on American Indian Affairs, and the Native American Rights Fund. Together, the Campaign works to serve and support Native children, youth, and families through upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act. The Campaign works to inform policy, legal, and communications strategies with the mission to uphold and protect ICWA.