The Justice Department has announced a concerted effort to address unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country, focusing particularly on issues related to missing and murdered indigenous persons. FBI assets will be deployed nationwide, marking the longest and most intense operation to date in this area.
A total of 60 FBI personnel will rotate in 90-day temporary duties over the next six months. This initiative will support field offices located in cities including Albuquerque, Denver, Detroit, Jackson, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, and Salt Lake City. The operation will see the FBI working closely with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal law enforcement agencies across multiple jurisdictions.
The personnel involved will receive backing from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit and will employ advanced forensic evidence processing tools to move cases forward and ensure perpetrators are held accountable. Cases will be aggressively prosecuted by U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “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.”
FBI Director Kash Patel commented, “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 United States Attorney Julie Beck emphasized the ongoing crisis's impact, saying, “For too long the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous persons has devastated Tribal communities. Our office stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who perpetrate violence against Native Americans.”
Indian Country is experiencing persistent crime and victimization levels. At the start of Fiscal Year 2025, the FBI's Indian Country program had about 4,300 open investigations, which included over 900 death investigations, 1,000 child abuse investigations, and more than 500 domestic violence and adult sexual abuse investigations.
This initiative is part of Operation Not Forgotten, which renews efforts initially commenced during President Trump’s first term under Executive Order 13898. This is the third deployment under the operation, which has supported over 500 cases in the past two years, resulting in the recovery of child victims, arrests, and indictments.
The drive also builds upon recent efforts to address cases of missing and murdered indigenous people, with the support of the Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program. This program places attorneys and coordinators across U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to assist in preventing and responding to these cases.