The FBI is surging resources to investigate unsolved cases in Indian Country, including those relating to missing and murdered Indigenous persons (MMIP). As part of “Operation Not Forgotten,” 60 FBI agents will be temporarily deployed to 10 field offices nationwide to work in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Tribal law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions. The BIA’s Missing and Murdered Unit and the FBI will use advanced forensic technology in their efforts. The FBI’s Indian Country program had about 4,300 open investigations at the beginning of fiscal year 2025. U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said that the collaboration will “help deliver the accountability that these communities deserve.” This is the third deployment under the operation, which has provided investigative support to more than 500 cases in the past two years and resulted in the recovery of 10 child victims and 52 arrests. Frank Star Comes Out, President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, said he welcomes the additional resources, but added “we’re not done yet.”
