Native children belong in Native communities: tribes decry New Mexico drug-exposed newborn rule

New Mexico's governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, has mandated that the state's child welfare department take custody of all newborns exposed to drugs and alcohol before birth. The directive, issued early last July, has sparked significant concern among families and healthcare providers.

Questions have arisen regarding the directive's application, with parents on addiction recovery medications like methadone and healthcare providers unsure if epidural anesthesia containing fentanyl would trigger state intervention. This broad interpretation has led to confusion and anxiety for many families.

Native American groups have voiced strong opposition, asserting that the directive undermines tribal sovereignty and fails to acknowledge the painful history of Indigenous child removals. They argue that such policies disproportionately affect Native communities and do not respect their right to self-determination in child welfare matters.