The United States Supreme Court has upheld federal requirements that Native American and Indigenous tribal members must be given preferences in the adoption or temporary fostering of Native children.
The ruling 7-2 ruling released on Thursday by the top court shot down a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, which among other provisions, set federal standards for removing Native children from their families and placing them for foster care or adoption. It required that “preference” be given to members of a child’s extended family, other tribe members or “other Indian families”.
