Title 25 — IndiansRelease 119-84

§20 CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.

Title 25 › Chapter CHAPTER 9— - ALLOTMENT OF INDIAN LANDS › § 20

Last updated Apr 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Decides who handles crimes on Pueblo lands in New Mexico, unless Congress says otherwise. The Pueblo tribe can handle crimes by its members, certain Indians, or Indian-owned businesses. The United States handles federal crimes listed in chapter 53 of title 18 when they are committed by or against those Indians or Indian-owned entities or involve Indian property. New Mexico handles crimes by people who are not Pueblo members or those defined Indians when the U.S. does not have jurisdiction. “Indian” — defined in title 25, sections 1301(2) and 1301(4).

Full Legal Text

Title 25, §20

Indians — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

“(a)Except as otherwise provided by Congress, jurisdiction over offenses committed anywhere within the exterior boundaries of any grant from a prior sovereign, as confirmed by Congress or the Court of Private Land Claims to a Pueblo Indian tribe of New Mexico, shall be as provided in this section.

“(b)The Pueblo has jurisdiction, as an act of the Pueblos’ inherent power as an Indian tribe, over any offense committed by a member of the Pueblo or an Indian as defined in title 25 [United States Code], section 1301(2) and 1301(4), or by any other Indian-owned entity.

“(c)The United States has jurisdiction over any offense described in chapter 53 of title 18, United States Code, committed by or against an Indian as defined in title 25 [United States Code], section 1301(2) and 1301(4) or any Indian-owned entity, or that involves any Indian property or interest.

“(d)The State of New Mexico shall have jurisdiction over any offense committed by a person who is not a member of a Pueblo or an Indian as defined in title 25 [United States Code], section 1301(2) and 1301(4), which offense is not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

25 U.S.C. § 20

Title 25 — Indians

Last Updated

Apr 22, 2026

Release point: 119-84