Dramatic Showdown: Child Taken from Foster Family to Be Placed with Choctaw Nation Blood Relatives

SANTA CLARITA, CA A 6-year-old girl of partial Choctaw lineage was taken from a foster family in Santa Clarita by social workers today in a dramatic scene, despite efforts by the family and supporters to try to block the move.

Social workers arrived at the home of Rusty and Summer Page near Ron Ridge and Pamlico drives shortly before 3 p.m. to take the girl, named Lexi, so she can be placed with Choctaw Nation blood relatives in Utah. Wearing braids and a pink T-shirt, Lexi clung tearfully to her foster father, weeping openly with her family as she was carried to a waiting car Monday amid shouts and chants by supporters of the Page family.

"I love you," shouted Summer Page while holding her sobbing daughter.

"We love you, Lexi. We're going to fight for you," shouted family members and supporters as Lexi was driven away.

The move was taken under the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, which was enacted in the 1970s to help protect the interests of Native American children. Lexi had lived with the Pages for four years.

The Pages have been fighting the move, but their legal efforts have been rejected. The Pages say they want to adopt Lexi and say the girl considers them and their three children to be her family.

Supporters of the family have been holding vigil outside the home for days in protest of the planned move. The Pages said earlier, however, they would not interfere with social workers when they came to take the girl.

Under the watchful eye of various cell phone cameras, social workers stood outside the front door of the home while the family prepared for the girl's departure. Supporters outside the home sang "Amazing Grace."

The girl loudly wept as her Rusty Page carried the girl to the waiting car as supporters shouted "We love you, Lexi."

Rusty Page quickly retreated back to his home where his other children were crying.

After the girl was driven away, supporters cried and gathered together in prayer.

Over the weekend, the Page family posted a note on Facebook to thank supporters: "We thank you so much for your amazing show of friendship. We have been so blessed to have people we know and people we don't know show up in person and in spirit today. We are so grateful to know that our supporters will be here through the night for Lexi and more are on their way!"

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.