Opinion ID: 1835956
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Federal Jurisdiction Versus State Jurisdiction

Text: Our court has never addressed whether State courts have jurisdiction over child custody disputes when a parent involuntarily faces deportation. However, case law from other jurisdictions indicates that issues concerning child custody are within the province of state jurisdiction, not federal immigration jurisdiction, even when a parent involuntarily faces deportation. [5] The whole subject of domestic relations, and particularly child custody problems, is generally considered a state law matter outside federal jurisdiction. [6] We cannot conclude, simply because a party to this case faces deportation, that federal immigration laws preempt this State's authority to decide matters involving child custody. We have stated that the jurisdiction of the State in juvenile adjudication cases arises out of the power every sovereignty possesses as parens patriae to every child within its borders to determine the status and custody that will best meet the child's needs and wants. [7] As such, the juvenile court properly exercised jurisdiction over Angelica and Daniel.