WASHINGTON — On April 1, 2025 United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced a surge in FBI resources and collaboration between U.S. Attorneys and Native Nations law enforcement. The surge will address violent crimes in Indian Country, including the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People epidemic. It is the third deployment under Operation Not Forgotten, a task force formed during President Donald Trump’s first term under Executive Order 13898, “Establishing the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives.”
“Crime rates in American Indian and Alaska Native communities are unacceptably high,” said AG Bondi. “By surging FBI resources and collaborating closely with U.S. Attorneys and Tribal law enforcement to prosecute cases, the Department of Justice will help deliver the accountability that these communities deserve.”
According to the statement, the FBI will provide 60 personnel for 90-day temporary assignments over the course of six months. Cities targeted in the surge include: Albuquerque, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Jackson, Miss. The FBI will partner with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, as well as United States Attorneys and Tribal law enforcement to arrest and prosecute offenders.
“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,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.
Oklahoma is home to 39 Native Nations and Oklahoma City is home to an estimated 300,000 Native citizens, making it one of the epicenters of the MMIP crisis.
“FBI Oklahoma City is proud to continue our collaboration with our Tribal law enforcement partners, BIA, OSBI, OHP, Tulsa PD, and other state and local agencies, in addition to the US Attorney’s Offices to investigate Indian country matters, and to find sustainable solutions that will improve public safety for our tribal communities.” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater.
Oklahoma City received an FBI resource surge to support MMIP investigations at the initial launch of Operation Not Forgotten in 2023 under the Biden administration. That year 40 FBI agents handled over 220 cases in 10 field offices across the country.
Oklahoma City was also involved in the 2024 Operation Not Forgotten resource surge that took place over 4 months with more than 50 personnel from the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services participating. Over 300 investigations were handled, resulting in 40 arrests, 11 indictments of violent offenders, and identification and recovery of 11 children from abusive or neglectful environments.
There has yet to be an update on this year’s surge, but FBI Director Kash Patel honored National MMIP Awareness Day on May 5, holding roundtable discussions with tribal leaders in Washington. During the discussion, Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley called on the Trump Administration and FBI to implement The Not Invisible Act along with tribal recommendations for its enhancement, stressing the urgent need for more law enforcement, rapid response teams, and dedicated funding for DNA testing to address the crisis.
Patel responded on the social media site X (formerly Twitter) writing,”Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day- today is a somber reminder of the tragedies that occur across our tribal lands. I spent the afternoon with leadership from the communities impacted, and left with a promise from @FBI to do more.”
