Federal lawmakers are considering the “AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017.” The act would make Tribes eligible for Department of Justice grants for developing and implementing AMBER Alert communication plans on Tribal lands. The bipartisan legislation is in response to the 2016 fatal abduction of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike on the Navajo Nation. The case raised questions about gaps in communication and coordination between Tribal and local law enforcement. The standing legislative committee of the Navajo Nation voted in July to support the measure.
