Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
The Justice Department announced a strategic initiative to intensify FBI operations in Indian Country, addressing unresolved violent crimes, including those related to missing and murdered indigenous individuals.
Over the next six months, 60 FBI personnel will be sent on 90-day temporary assignments, marking the largest deployment to focus on crime in Indian Country. The operation, in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and tribal law enforcement, aims to support field offices in Albuquerque, Denver, Detroit, Jackson, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, and Salt Lake City.
These efforts will involve utilizing the latest forensic tools, with the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Missing and Murdered Unit assisting to resolve cases. "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," stated Attorney General Pam Bondi.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the commitment by stating, "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."
U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell from the District of South Dakota reinforced the initiative, highlighting their long-standing dedication to addressing violent crime in Indian Country: "These additional resources will aid in our effort to hold offenders accountable and achieve justice on behalf of victims."
With Indian Country experiencing persistent crime, the FBI's Indian Country program had about 4,300 open investigations at the start of Fiscal Year 2025, including many involving death, child abuse, and domestic violence.
This latest initiative, Operation Not Forgotten, continues efforts from President Trump's first term and has already provided support to over 500 cases in the last two years, resulting in several legal actions and recoveries. The operation will also work with the Department's MMIP Regional Outreach Program, aiming to tackle cases effectively by having attorneys and coordinators placed in U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide.
