The Justice Department is increasing efforts to address violent crimes in Indian Country by sending 60 FBI personnel on 90-day temporary assignments over six months. This is the largest and longest deployment of resources to date. The FBI will work with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tribal law enforcement, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, using advanced forensic tools. The goal is to solve cases and hold criminals accountable. U.S. Attorneys' Offices will "aggressively prosecute case referrals," said Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The FBI is working with local offices in ten cities, including Albuquerque, Denver, and Minneapolis, to address issues on tribal lands. 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." There are over 4,300 open investigations, including 900 death investigations, 1,000 child abuse cases, and 500 domestic violence and sexual abuse cases. This effort builds on the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives, created under Executive Order 13898. The operation has resulted in the recovery of 10 child victims, 52 arrests, and 25 charges or judicial complaints, as mentioned by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater discussed the impact of violent crime in Indian Country, stating, "Whether it’s a family mourning a murder victim, or a community searching for a missing friend or neighbor, there have been countless lives touched by violent crime in Indian Country," as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The FBI is committed to working with state, local, and tribal law enforcement to address these issues. The initiative, Operation Not Forgotten, is supported by the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, which helps improve the response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. U.S. Attorneys' Offices across the country are involved in handling these cases.
