The Justice Department is taking decisive action to address the ongoing issue of violent crime within Native American territories by significantly increasing the FBI's presence to investigate unresolved cases. This initiative, called Operation Not Forgotten, will involve the deployment of 60 FBI agents to various regions, with each agent assigned to 90-day temporary duty assignments over six months. These regions include Albuquerque, Denver, Detroit, Jackson, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, and Salt Lake City. The FBI is collaborating with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Tribal law enforcement to ensure a comprehensive approach to tackling these issues.
According to a release by the Department of Justice, FBI personnel will also be supported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, utilizing cutting-edge forensic tools to bring perpetrators to justice. The U.S. Attorney's Offices across the nation are poised to pursue aggressive prosecution of cases referred by this task force. Attorney General Pam Bondi highlighted the gravity of the situation, "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," she announced.
The mantle of this initiative has been taken up by FBI Director Kash Patel, who assured that "Operation Not Forgotten ensures a surge in resources to locate violent offenders on tribal lands and find those who have gone missing," as stated in the press release. This operation is part of an ongoing effort that began during President Trump's first term, following Executive Order 13898, which created a dedicated task force for addressing missing and murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives. The need for such efforts is highlighted by alarming statistics, with the FBI's Indian Country program having over 4,300 open investigations as the Fiscal Year 2025 approaches, including numerous cases of death, child abuse, and domestic violence.
Operation Not Forgotten is not just a response to current issues but builds on years of efforts to address the crisis of missing and murdered individuals within indigenous communities. The Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program, which places attorneys and coordinators in U.S. Attorneys' Offices, plays a key role in supporting these efforts to prevent and respond to such cases.
