State claims right to raid trust land in Kansas

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Law
State claims right to raid trust land in Kansas
Monday, April 5, 2004

Authorities in Kansas raided the Wyandotte Nation's gaming facility in downtown Kansas City on Friday, claiming the right to enforce state laws on Indian land.

The small parcel was taken into trust for the tribe by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The tribe has been operating Class II machines, owned by Multimedia Games of Texas, on the land. State authorities seized about 150 of the machines in the early morning raid.

In a legal opinion, the National Indian Gaming Commission ruled that the casino is illegal. But the agency also said the tribe has jurisdictional authority over the land.

There is no precedent for state authorities to enter trust land for alleged violations of state law that occur on trust land. The U.S. Supreme Court considered, but did not rule, on this issue in the Inyo County v. Bishop Paiute Tribe case.

There is precedent to state authorities to enter trust land for alleged violations of state law that occur off trust land. The U.S. Supreme Court, in the Nevada v. Hicks, decision allowed state game officials to go onto a reservation to investigate a crime that occurred elsewhere.

Get the Story:
Officials shut down casino in early morning raid (The Kansas City Star 4/3)
Officials close Wyandotte casino (The Daily Oklahoman 4/3)
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Kansas Puts Tribe's Bingo Parlor Out Of Business (AP 4/3)
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Get the Decision:
Legality of Gaming under the IGRA on the Shriner Tract owned by the Wyandotte Tribe (March 24, 2003)

Other Documents:
BIA: Reconsideration on Wyandotte lands (June 12, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Wyandotte Nation of Oklahama - http://www.wyandotte-nation.org/home.html