Law governing adoptions of Native American children upheld

The Associated Press - August 10, 2019 8:24 am

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – A federal appeals court has upheld the constitutionality of a 1978 law giving preference to Native American families in foster care and adoption proceedings involving American Indian children.
Friday’s decision by a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal upholds the Indian Child Welfare Act and reverses a Texas-based federal judge. It comes in a case involving non-Indian families in multiple states who adopted or sought to adopt Native American children.
Opponents of the law called it an unconstitutional race-based intrusion on states’ powers to govern adoptions. However the 5th Circuit majority disagreed, saying that the law’s definition of an “Indian child” is a political classification.
The decision was a victory for supporters of the law who say it’s needed to protect and preserve Native American culture and families.

 

Latest Stories

Biden Welcomes Trump Back to Oval Office in Traditional Power Transfer Ceremony

WASHINGTON (TNND) — President-elect Donald Trump traveled to Washington, D.C. Wednesday to meet with President Joe Biden...

Wildcat Jazz-Cats Jazz Ensemble and the Bella Voce Take the Stage

Enjoy a night of incredible music on Thursday, November 14 at 7:00 PM at the Concert...

Oklahoma Bets on Bitcoin Boom, Muskogee Locals Worry About Noise From Crypto Mining

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma lawmakers are betting on bitcoin to bring more jobs to the...