The Cherokee Nation, Oneida Nation, Quinault Indian Nation, Morongo Band of Mission Indians and Navajo Nation said in a brief filed Friday that the ICWA “operates at the core of the trust obligation” the federal government owes tribes, and Congress’ authority to fulfill that trust is much broader than Texas paints it.
“Accepting plaintiffs’ invitation to narrowly limit Congress’ authority would rewrite history, break the United States’ promises and wreak havoc across the U.S. Code,” the tribes said.