Justice Department Cracks Down on Indigenous Violence

The Justice Department has joined forces with its partners across the federal government and American Indian and Alaska Native communities to address the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons.

On National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

"There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice."

The Justice Department has prioritized MMIP cases, with the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program. This program permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people.

In Idaho, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will benefit from the Northwest Regional MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney, Bree Black Horse, who will work out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington and assist on community engagement and prosecutions in Idaho.

The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking crisis.

The Justice Department is also addressing violent crime and the fentanyl crisis in Indian Country. Research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities are linked to historical trauma, cultural disruption, and ongoing marginalization.

U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit said, "The crisis of missing and murdered indigenous persons continues to impact Idaho’s tribal communities, causing generational pain. We are committed to enhancing our partnerships with Idaho’s tribes to address this unacceptable problem."

The Justice Department’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis are a crucial step towards creating a safer and more just community for all.