Operation Not Forgotten: Justice for Native Communities?

Violent crime has long cast a shadow over American Indian and Alaska Native communities, leaving families grappling with loss and unanswered questions. On April 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice unveiled a bold response: Operation Not Forgotten, a six-month initiative deploying 60 FBI personnel to 10 field offices nationwide. This surge aims to tackle unresolved cases, including those tied to missing and murdered Indigenous persons, in a coordinated push with Tribal law enforcement and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The operation, described as the most extensive national deployment of FBI resources to Indian Country to date, reflects a renewed commitment to addressing a persistent crisis. With personnel rotating through 90-day assignments in cities like Albuquerque, Minneapolis, and Seattle, the effort builds on years of collaboration and seeks to deliver tangible results for communities where crime rates remain stubbornly high.

The scale of the challenge is stark. At the start of Fiscal Year 2025, the FBI’s Indian Country program juggled roughly 4,300 open investigations. These include over 900 death investigations, 1,000 child abuse cases, and more than 500 instances of domestic violence and adult sexual abuse. Such figures highlight a reality where violent crime disproportionately affects Native populations, often outpacing national averages by wide margins.

Historical data paints an even grimmer picture. Between 1992 and 2001, American Indian and Alaska Native individuals faced violent crime at a rate of 101 per 1,000 persons aged 12 or older, compared to a national average of 41 per 1,000. Homicide ranks among the leading causes of death for Native women, with rates nearly four times higher than those for white individuals. Operation Not Forgotten steps into this fray, armed with advanced forensic tools and a mandate to resolve cases that have lingered too long.

Partnerships drive this initiative. The FBI joins forces with the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Missing and Murdered Unit and Tribal law enforcement agencies, pooling expertise to navigate the jurisdictional maze of Indian Country. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices stand ready to prosecute referrals, aiming to hold perpetrators accountable. This teamwork echoes earlier efforts, like the Safe Trails Task Forces, which integrate federal and local resources across 200 Tribal communities.

Past operations under the same name offer a glimpse of what’s possible. Since 2023, Operation Not Forgotten has supported over 500 cases, yielding 52 arrests, 25 indictments, and the recovery of 10 child victims. Advocates for Native communities praise the focus but argue it’s a temporary fix for a deeper, systemic issue. They point to the need for permanent resources, a sentiment grounded in decades of underfunding and inconsistent federal attention.

Operation Not Forgotten doesn’t stand alone. It dovetails with the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, launched in 2022 to embed attorneys and coordinators in five U.S. regions. This program tackles missing and murdered Indigenous persons cases by fostering collaboration across law enforcement and boosting public awareness. Its work aligns with Executive Order 14053, which calls for trauma-informed responses to a crisis that’s claimed countless lives.

Yet challenges persist. Data collection remains spotty, complicating efforts to track trends or measure progress. A 2016 study found over 84% of American Indian and Alaska Native women had experienced violence in their lifetime, a statistic that underscores the urgency. Supporters of these initiatives see them as vital steps, while others question whether short-term surges can address root causes like poverty and historical trauma.

This isn’t the first time the federal government has turned its gaze to Indian Country. The Major Crimes Act of 1885 gave the FBI jurisdiction over serious offenses on Tribal lands, setting the stage for today’s efforts. Operation Not Forgotten itself traces back to Executive Order 13898, signed during President Trump’s first term, which established a task force on missing and murdered Indigenous persons. Each iteration has built on the last, refining tactics and deepening partnerships.

The latest deployment promises results, with Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel framing it as a mission to deliver justice. Families of victims, long waiting for answers, hope they’re right. Still, the operation’s six-month timeline raises questions about what happens next. Will the surge spark lasting change, or will it fade into the background like so many efforts before it?

For now, Operation Not Forgotten offers a lifeline to communities battered by violence. Its blend of manpower, technology, and collaboration seeks to close cases that have haunted Tribal nations for years. The stakes are high, not just for the FBI or the Justice Department, but for the people who call these lands home. Every arrest, every recovered child, carries weight beyond statistics, it’s a crack in the wall of impunity.

The road ahead remains uncertain. Sustained action, advocates say, hinges on more than temporary surges. It demands resources, trust, and a reckoning with the past. As the operation unfolds through 2025, its success will be measured not just in numbers, but in the lives it touches and the hope it restores. For those watching closely, it’s a chance to see justice take root where it’s been too long denied.