An Oklahoma-based American Indian tribe is challenging a recent decision by federal gambling officials that prohibits the tribe from conducting gambling on its land in southern New Mexico.
The Fort Sill Apache contend in a motion filed late last week that the decision made by the National Indian Gaming Commission in May is contrary to law and violates a 2007 settlement with the tribe.
The tribe also is adding the federal government and the U.S. Interior Department as defendants in the case.
The tribe wants to operate a casino on land near Deming that was put into trust in 2002.
The state also has rejected those efforts. The tribe has asked the New Mexico Supreme Court to reconsider its decision not to force Gov. Susana Martinez to sign a gambling compact with the tribe.
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