The Cayuga Nation’s right to self-governance was reaffirmed after a federal court ruling allowed the Nation to reclaim properties from occupants who had refused to pay rent for over a decade.
The dispute centered on two Cayuga Nation citizens who stopped paying rent more than 12 years ago for homes located in Seneca Falls, New York. The Nation’s court issued eviction orders in May, but the occupants appealed to New York State Supreme Court Justice Daniel Porsch, who issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to halt the evictions.
In response, the Cayuga Nation, asserting its sovereign immunity, brought the case to federal court in the Western District of New York. During oral arguments, U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wolford criticized Judge Porsch’s TRO as “procedurally unorthodox,” suggesting it overstepped state authority by interfering with the Nation’s judicial process.
On November 20, Justice Porsch vacated his restraining order, acknowledging the Cayuga Nation’s sovereignty and denying the occupants’ request for further injunctions. The decision allowed the Nation to enforce the evictions.
Cayuga Nation’s federally recognized representative, Clint Halftown, expressed frustration over the prolonged litigation. “The Nation is disappointed with the volume of litigation required to get to the correct result,” Halftown said, “but at least the state court’s most recent orders properly recognize the sovereignty of the Nation and its inherent right to self-governance.”
The properties were returned to the Nation shortly after the ruling, but inspections revealed both homes were in severe disrepair. Halftown noted that the damage might necessitate demolishing the structures. “It is sad that two houses were left in such terrible conditions,” he said, adding that the homes are meant to benefit other Nation citizens who pay income-adjusted rent.
Halftown also emphasized that the Nation will continue to reclaim properties from those who refuse to pay rent or maintain their homes. “The Nation will continue its efforts to retake properties where squatters fail to pay rent or take care of the houses.”
The case underscores ongoing challenges in balancing Native American sovereignty with state jurisdiction, highlighting the legal complexities faced by tribal nations defending their rights to self-governance and property management.
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