The U.S. Department of Justice has announced an increase in FBI resources across the United States over a six-month period, targeting unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country as part of Operation Not Forgotten. This initiative involves the temporary assignment of 60 FBI personnel to selected field offices, including those in Phoenix, Arizona. Operation Not Forgotten is recognized as the most extensive national deployment directed at addressing crime in Indian Country.
In Arizona, the FBI Phoenix office will receive 11 agents rotating over six months, coordinating efforts with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit and various tribal law enforcement agencies. This collaboration is part of ongoing efforts to enhance safety and justice for Native American communities.
Timothy Courchaine, U.S. Attorney, emphasized the federal government's commitment to tribal communities, stating, “Protection of the public is one of the key responsibilities of the Department of Justice. Here in Arizona, the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI have a special trust relationship with the 22 federally recognized tribes in our state.” Jose A. Perez, Special Agent in Charge at FBI Phoenix, highlighted the initiative's potential to bolster resources, noting, "We are responsible for investigating the most serious crimes in Indian Country, and this initiative will provide much needed additional resources to help us better serve those same communities by assisting victims and bringing criminals to justice."
Attorney General Pam Bondi addressed the issue of crime rates in Indigenous communities, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the initiative. Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel stated, “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.”
Currently, the FBI's Indian Country program handles approximately 4,300 investigations, focusing significantly on cases involving death, child abuse, and domestic violence. Building on Executive Order 13898 from President Trump's administration, Operation Not Forgotten marks its third deployment, having previously supported over 500 cases, resulting in numerous arrests and recoveries.
The initiative also connects with the Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program, aiming to prevent and respond to cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous people through enhanced attorney and coordinator support in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide.