Morongo Band of Mission Indians Tribal Chairman Robert Martin called the ruling a “strong statement” of tribes’ sovereign rights and their relationship with the federal government. Martin said the tribe joined the Cherokee, Navajo, Oneida and the Quinault Indian nations to intervene in the case.
“We were overwhelmed by the massive outpouring of bipartisan support for ICWA, from federal lawmakers to the attorneys general of 21 states to dozens of the most well-respected child welfare organizations in the nation,” he said in a written statement.
Martin described the Indian Child Welfare Act as the “gold standard” for child welfare policy and said the tribal council will remain committed to defending its constitutionality.