The Bureau of Indian Affairs has once again delayed a final decision on federal recognition for the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians of California.

The BIA was originally set to issue a final determination by October 4. That was pushed back to December 15 but now it's being delayed until February 14, 2011.

"The Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs needs this extension to allow for review of the recommended decisions," Lee Fleming of the BIA's Office of Federal Acknowledgment said in a letter to the petitioners, The Orange County Register reported.

In November 2007, the BIA issued a proposed finding against the tribe, which has split into several factions. The BIA said the group failed to meet four out of seven mandatory recognition criteria.

Get the Story:
San Juan's Juaneno recognition ruling delayed 60 days (The Orange County Register 12/8)
Quake remembrance highlights Juaneno divisions (The Orange County Register 12/9)

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BIA delays final decision on federal recognition for Juaneno Band (09/30)
Juaneno Band of Mission Indians awaits BIA recognition decision (09/01)
Juaneno factions fail to unite for recognition (12/3)
BIA denies recognition to Juaneno Band (11/27)
BIA delays decision on Juaneno Band recognition (10/3)
Lobbyists spar over unrecognized tribe (9/19)