New Mexico’s drug-exposed newborn policy reignites trauma of Indigenous child removal
Original framing: “‘Native children belong in Native communities’: tribes decry New Mexico drug-exposed newborn rule” — The Guardian - World
Indigenous communities emphasize the importance of keeping children within their cultural and familial context, as seen in the Indian Child Welfare Act. The new policy undermines this principle by prioritizing state custody over tribal sovereignty and cultural continuity.
The New Mexico policy on drug-exposed newborns is not just a public health issue but a deeply rooted colonial policy that continues the legacy of Indigenous child removal.
By framing the issue as a health crisis, it obscures the systemic failures in child welfare and healthcare that disproportionately affect Indigenous communities. Indigenous perspectives, historical context, and cross-cultural models all point to the need for a shift toward sovereignty-respecting, community-based solutions. Tribal nations must be empowered to lead in child welfare, with support from federal and state governments. Only through this systemic reorientation can we address the trauma of the past and build a more just future for Indigenous children and families.