DOJ Joins Lawsuit Alleging ICWA Violations

The U.S. Department of Justice has joined a federal lawsuit in Rapid City. The suit alleges that 7th Circuit Court judges, the Pennington County State’s Attorney, and the state Department of Social Services remove children for as long as 60 days without giving Indian tribes and parents a fair hearing. Tribes from Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations, along with parents, say the defendants are violating the Indian Child Welfare Act, or ICWA.