Recently, a custody battle gained national headlines when a Native American woman filed for emergency custody of her newborn grandchild as well as two older grandchildren. The woman enlisted the assistance of the tribal police who then contacted the police department in the county where her grandchild had just been born. Acting on what they believed were federal orders, officers accompanied tribal officials to a local hospital and took physical custody of the 2-day-old infant.

The grandmother alleged that the child was in danger from her parents — especially the birth father who supposedly had physically abused the two older children in the home. The mother of the children has insisted that her relative is acting out of racial motives, as the biological father of the baby is a white man. She further claims that the children have not been harmed.

Senator Marco Rubio, from Florida — where this incident took place — expressed his outrage over what he calls false pretenses and an abuse of power by tribal authorities. The police department is likewise conducting a review of the matter and what further actions may be necessary. The majority of child custody disputes are between biological parents; however, if any Kentucky resident is concerned about the welfare of a relative’s child, he or she may seek information concerning custody arrangements that would best serve the child involved.

Source: kmbz.com, “Child custody case erupts in dispute between state and Native American tribe”, March 22, 2018