The Human Rights Crisis Ignored: Disenrollment and Abuse on Tribal Lands

Indigenous people from across the country are calling on U.S. Interior Department Secretary Deb Haaland to address ongoing human rights violations during the Biden administration. Despite her historic role, Secretary Haaland has increasingly overlooked current abuses on Indian lands.

Ignored Human Rights Violations

In northern Washington state, Nooksack Indigenous families face eviction from federal rent-to-own homes without due process. The United Nations has twice urged the Biden administration to stop these violations, but the U.S. State Department cites “tribal sovereignty” as an excuse for inaction. Secretary Haaland was made aware of the issue in early 2022 but has since avoided addressing it.

In upstate New York, the Cayuga Nation and Seneca County Board of Supervisors have asked Secretary Haaland to address civil rights issues, including an illegitimate tribal police force and property rights erosion. These requests have also gone unanswered.

The Crisis of Disenrollment

Disenrollment, or “paper genocide,” is a severe issue where Tribal governments remove individuals from membership rolls for political reasons. This practice strips individuals of social services, education, healthcare, and welfare benefits. It is a profoundly inhumane practice, causing immense harm to those affected.

In central California, hundreds of Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians are being ejected from their Tribe without due process. The Biden administration has ignored repeated pleas for protection despite federal laws that allow Secretary Haaland to intervene. As a U.S. Representative, Haaland promised to tackle disenrollment but has not followed through.

In eastern Oklahoma, four Tribal nations refuse to grant citizenship to Freedmen, descendants of freed slaves, despite treaties promising these rights. Secretary Haaland has only “encouraged” these nations to honor their obligations, stopping short of enforcement.

Indigenous rights lawyer Gabriel Galanda highlights disenrollment’s cruelty: “It’s hard to imagine anything more inhumane than telling a youth who has grown up believing they belong somewhere – and now they’re being told they don’t belong.”

Secretary Haaland has the unique position and moral authority to make a significant impact. The Biden administration must prioritize Indigenous human rights and address disenrollment. Will Secretary Haaland rise to the occasion, or will these injustices persist?

Disclaimer: This content is independently sourced from a law firm’s blog post and does not endorse NASP in any way. For more information, visit Galanda Broadman.