Albert Alto v. Kenneth Salazar

OPINION

BERZON, Circuit Judge:

Our question concerns the propriety of a preliminary injunction issued with regard to a dispute over membership in an Indian tribe. “ ‘[A] tribe’s right to define its own membership for tribal purposes has long been recognized as central to its existence as an independent political community.’ ” Cahto Tribe of Laytonville Rancheria v. Dutschke, 715 F.3d 1225, 1226 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Santa Clara, Pueblo v. Martinez, 436 U.S. 49, 72 n. 32, 98 S.Ct. 1670, 56 L.Ed.2d 106 (1978)). In view of the importance of tribal membership decisions and as part of the federal…