Joan Hollinger writes for The New York Times, Room for Debate, January 24, 2013
Is it inconsistent with the … Indian Child Welfare Act to allow an Indian biological father who has forfeited any parental rights he might have had under state law to block a non-Indian mother’s voluntary adoptive placement of her newborn child with prospective parents selected by her? Yes. The invocation of the federal law in such circumstances conflicts with its underlying goals and is an unwarranted interference with the child’s liberty interests in remaining with her adoptive family, as well as with her mother’s right to serve her child’s best interests by relinquishing her for adoption.