Rachel C. Hernandez Acting United States Attorney for the District of Arizona | U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona
The Justice Department has announced a significant increase in FBI resources to address unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country through Operation Not Forgotten. Over the next six months, 60 FBI personnel will be deployed in temporary duty assignments across select FBI field offices nationwide, including in Arizona. This constitutes the most extensive national deployment of FBI resources targeting Indian Country crime to date.
Arizona will receive 11 FBI agents who will rotate across various offices in the state. These efforts will be supported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit and will include collaboration with Tribal law enforcement agencies.
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "Protection of the public is one of the key responsibilities of the Department of Justice. Here in Arizona, the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI have a special trust relationship with the 22 federally recognized tribes in our state. Operation Not Forgotten reflects the continued commitment of the federal government to pursue justice for crime victims in all Native American communities."
FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Jose A. Perez highlighted the collaborative nature of this operation, "Our FBI personnel and Safe Trails Task Forces work closely every single day with our law enforcement partners to investigate crimes of violence throughout the many tribal territories in Arizona…this initiative will provide much needed additional resources to help us better serve those same communities by assisting victims and bringing criminals to justice.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi noted the high crime rates in these communities, stating the importance of accountability through the surge in resources. "Crime rates in American Indian and Alaska Native communities are unacceptably high. By surging FBI resources… the Department of Justice will help deliver the accountability that these communities deserve."
FBI Director Kash Patel underscored the mission's goals, “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.”
FBI’s Indian Country program had approximately 4,300 open investigations at the start of Fiscal Year 2025, including over 900 death investigations, 1,000 child abuse investigations, and more than 500 domestic violence and adult sexual abuse investigations. Operation Not Forgotten, which began during President Trump’s first term, is now in its third deployment and has supported over 500 cases in the past two years, resulting in 52 arrests and 25 judicial proceedings.
The initiative is further bolstered by the Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program, aimed at preventing and responding to cases of missing or murdered indigenous people.
