The Justice Department has announced a significant increase in FBI resources dedicated to tackling unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country. This includes cases related to missing and murdered indigenous persons. In an unprecedented national effort, the FBI will deploy 60 personnel on rotating 90-day assignments over a period of six months. The initiative marks the most extensive deployment of FBI resources to address crime in Indian Country.
The FBI will collaborate with field offices in key locations such as Albuquerque, Denver, Detroit, Jackson, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, and Salt Lake City. Together with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal law enforcement agencies, they aim to resolve outstanding cases. The Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit will support FBI personnel using the latest forensic technology to facilitate prosecutions.
“Crime rates in American Indian and Alaska Native communities are unacceptably high. By surging FBI resources and collaborating closely with US Attorneys and Tribal law enforcement to prosecute cases, the Department of Justice will help deliver the accountability that these communities deserve," stated Attorney General Pam Bondi.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the agency's dedication to tracking violent criminals and locating missing persons, declaring, “The FBI will manhunt violent criminals on all lands – and Operation Not Forgotten ensures a surge in resources to locate violent offenders on tribal lands and find those who have gone missing.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah noted the commitment to Indian Country cases, adding, “Violent crime has no borders and the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Utah remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to seek justice in Indian Country cases and protecting public safety.”
As of the start of Fiscal Year 2025, the FBI's Indian Country program reported approximately 4,300 active investigations, including over 900 related to deaths, 1,000 involving child abuse, and over 500 focused on domestic violence and adult sexual abuse.
Operation Not Forgotten, which began during President Trump’s administration under Executive Order 13898, continues its mission through its third deployment. It has provided investigative support to over 500 cases, resulting in the recovery of 10 child victims, 52 arrests, and 25 indictments or judicial complaints. Additionally, the initiative will widen its outreach through the Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program, positioning attorneys and coordinators in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide to manage and prevent cases concerning missing or murdered indigenous people.