The National Indian Gaming Commission is warning the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma not to open a casino in New Mexico.

The tribe wants to operate a Class II facility on trust land near Las Cruces. The site is about 750 miles away from the tribe's headquarters in Apache, Oklahoma.

The move came a day after New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) ordered state police to block access to the casino site. Officers were posted on Wednesday evening.

"Because the federal government is abdicating its responsibility, I have no choice but to take immediate and forceful action to protect the citizens of New Mexico and the integrity of our gaming laws," Richardson said [Press Release].

Apache Chairman Jeff Houser criticized the governor for his move. He said the state has no right to interfere in "tribal-federal affairs."

"The Fort Sill Apache tribe will not be harassed and intimidated," Houser told KRQE News 13.

The 30-acre site was taken into trust in 2001. The state contends the tribe hasn't followed Section 20 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act [Letter to NIGC].

Get the Story:
Feds: Okla. tribe can't open N.M. casino (AP 2/28)
Gov. Richardson bars access to Akela Flats casino (The Las Cruces Sun-News 2/28)
Showdown looms over Apache casino (KRQE 2/28)
Governor Orders Casino Blocked (The Albuquerque Journal 2/28)
N.M. governor orders blockade of Okla.-based tribe's casino (The Oklahoman 2/28)
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State Police Blocking Entry To High-Stakes Bingo Parlor (AP 2/28)
NM Police to Block Tribe's Bingo Parlor (AP 2/28)