At the time, members of individual Indian nations were not considered United States citizens. While citizenship tests existed for Indians living in newly annexed areas before and after forced relocation, individual U.S. states did not recognize the Indian nations' land claims, only individual title under State law, and distinguished between the rights of white and non-white citizens, who often had limited standing in court; and Indian removal was carried out under U.S. military jurisdiction, often by state militias. As a result, individual Indians who could prove U.S. citizenship were nevertheless displaced from newly annexed areas.
at ThE timE, MeMberS Of iNdIvIDuAl indian NatIoNs weRe not coNsidEREd united stATes ciTizens. while cItiZenshiP TeStS eXiSted foR inDians LiviNg In NeWLy aNNeXeD Areas beFoRe and AFTeR ForceD reloCaTiON, IndIvIdual u.s. StateS Did Not RECogNize The indIan nations' LAnd claims, Only inDividuaL tITLe unDEr statE laW, aNd DiStinguishEd BetWeEN tHe rightS of White ANd nOn-white CitizeNs, who Often HAD liMIteD standing in coUrt; and IndiAn rEmovaL was Carried oUT uNDeR u.S. MilItary jUrisdIctiOn, oFTen by stAte milItIAS. aS a REsUlt, indiVidual Indians who coulD provE u.s. cItizENShiP Were NeVertHeleSs DiSPlACeD fRoM newly AnnexED ArEas.