The U.S. Department of Justice has announced a new initiative aimed at addressing unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country, including those involving missing and murdered indigenous persons. FBI personnel will be mobilized across the country as part of this effort, marking the longest and most comprehensive deployment of FBI resources in the region to date.
Sixty FBI agents will be assigned on 90-day temporary duty rotations over a span of six months. They will support field offices in several locations, including Albuquerque, Denver, Detroit, Jackson, Mississippi, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, and Salt Lake City. The initiative will involve collaboration between the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and tribal law enforcement agencies.
Assistance will be offered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, using advanced forensic tools to investigate and resolve cases. U.S. Attorney’s Offices intend to pursue aggressive prosecution of case referrals.
"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.
"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," stated FBI Director Kash Patel.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska has also shown support for this mission by pursuing violent criminals targeting individuals on Indian reservations in Nebraska. It obtained a murder conviction against Michelle Marr this past February, with sentencing set for June 5, 2025.
Indian Country continues to face significant levels of crime, with approximately 4,300 open investigations by the FBI's Indian Country program, including over 900 death investigations, 1,000 child abuse investigations, and more than 500 cases of domestic violence and adult sexual abuse.
Operation Not Forgotten continues efforts initiated during President Trump’s first term under Executive Order 13898, which established the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. This operation represents the third iteration of efforts that have provided investigative support to over 500 cases, resulting in the recovery of 10 child victims, 52 arrests, and 25 indictments or judicial complaints over the past two years.
Additionally, the initiative builds on resources set in place over recent years to tackle cases of missing and murdered indigenous persons. Efforts will be supported by the Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program, which allocates attorneys and coordinators in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to aid in the prevention and response to such cases.