This week, we are seeing the true breadth of those who champion the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). In an outpouring of support, 497 Tribal Nations, 62 Native organizations, 20 states and DC, 87 congresspeople, and 27 child welfare and adoption organizations, and many others signed on to 21 briefs submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of upholding ICWA.
Today, the United States, tribal defendants, and state and private plaintiffs filed petitions asking the United States Supreme Court to review the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Brackeen v. Haaland, a case challenging the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).
Today, United States Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced the steps that the U.S. Department of Interior will take to address the history and current-day impact of boarding school policies and operations targeted at Native children and families through the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative.
Today, the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals published its en banc decision in Brackeen v. Haaland, a case challenging the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). While the Protect ICWA Campaign is pleased to see that the court recognized that ICWA generally is within Congress’s authority, we are deeply concerned that aspects of this opinion misunderstand the unique relationship between the United States and tribal nations.
(NEW ORLEANS, January 22, 2020)—Following today’s United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals oral arguments in the Brackeen v. Bernhardt case, the Protect ICWA Campaign, consisting of the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the National Congress of American Indians, the Association on American Indian Affairs, and the Native American Rights Fund, issued the following statements:
On Wednesday, January 22 the full United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (Fifth Circuit) will rehear Brackeen v. Bernhardt, a case challenging the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and the Protect ICWA Campaign and its coalition partners will be there, on behalf of Indian Country, to show support for the 41-year-old law that protects the best interests of Indian children and families.
(PORTLAND, Ore. December 13, 2019) — Today, 486 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and 59 Native organizations filed an amicus brief to the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals defending the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) as part of the Court’s en banc proceedings. The Protect ICWA Campaign strongly
(PORTLAND, Ore. November 7, 2019) — Today, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted rehearing en banc in the case Brackeen v. Bernhardt. The Protect ICWA Campaign, consisting of the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the National Congress of American Indians, the Association on American Indian Affairs, and the Native American
(PORTLAND, Ore. August 9, 2019)— Today, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals published its decision in Brackeen v. Bernhardt, the federal court challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The court’s decision affirmed the constitutionality of ICWA, recognizing the unique political status of tribal nations and upholding the federal law that is so critical
(Portland, Ore., May 30, 2019)—The Protect ICWA Campaign—the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the National Congress of American Indians, the Association on American Indian Affairs, and the Native American Rights Fund—applauds the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to deny review in Carter v. Sweeney. Carter v. Sweeney is a case challenging the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA),
(NEW ORLEANS, March 13, 2019)—The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments today in Brackeen v. Bernhardt, in which the United States and tribal nations stand together in defense of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the American Indian and Alaska Native children that it serves. A nationwide coalition of 325 tribal nations, 57
