Indian Child Welfare Act
The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA, enacted November 8, 1978 and codified at 25 U.S.C. §§ 1901–1963) is a United States federal law that governs jurisdiction over the removal of American Indian children from their families in custody, foster care, and adoption cases. ICWA acknowledges tribal governments' exclusive jurisdiction over children who reside on or are domiciled on a reservation, or are existing wards of a Tribal court.