MMIP Crisis Haunts Tribal Communities

MMIP Crisis Haunts Tribal Communities

The crisis of missing or murdered Indigenous persons plagues Tribal communities across the United States, with no end in sight. In recognition of National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day, the Justice Department has strengthened its efforts to tackle this crisis, building partnerships with law enforcement agencies and Tribal communities.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted the department’s ongoing efforts to address the MMIP and human trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. He acknowledged the persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, particularly women and girls. “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,” Garland said.

The Department of Justice has been working hard to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and other law enforcement partners to address violent crime, the fentanyl crisis, and other public safety issues in Tribal communities. U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi emphasized the importance of these partnerships. “The Department of Justice has been working hard to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and other law enforcement partners in order to better address violent crime, the fentanyl crisis, and other public safety issues in Tribal communities,” Gee said.

The FBI remains committed to addressing the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities and families. FBI Director Christopher Wray pledged to prioritize support for victims and pursue investigations into crimes impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities. “The FBI remains unwavering in our pledge to work with our law enforcement partners to address the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities and families,” Wray said. “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the crime impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities.”

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram emphasized the importance of protecting Tribal communities from deadly drugs like fentanyl. “DEA’s top priority is protecting all communities from deadly drugs, like fentanyl, and drug-related violent crime,” Milgram said. “We know that no community has been spared from these deadly threats and we are committed to keeping Tribal communities safe.”

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben praised the dedicated coordinated efforts between Tribal law enforcement and federal and state partners in responding to missing or murdered Indigenous person cases. “The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is pleased with the dedicated coordinated efforts between Tribal law enforcement and federal and state partners who respond to missing or murdered indigenous person cases,” Ben said. “These partnerships are critical when a tribal member goes missing or is murdered, as these types of cases may cross jurisdictional boundaries and often require the involvement of neighboring departments.”

As part of its efforts to address the MMIP crisis, the Justice Department created the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States. The program aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. In the Southern District of Mississippi, the United States Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, conducted a training event on March 19, 2024, with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (M.B.C.I.), the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, the Leake County Sheriff’s Department, and the Carthage Police Department regarding the implementation of the FBI’s Safe Trails Task Force, which brings together federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement officers to focus on violent crime in Tribal communities and surrounding areas.

While the Justice Department’s efforts are a step in the right direction, much work remains to be done to address the MMIP crisis. Tribal communities deserve safety and justice, and it is up to the Justice Department and its partners to ensure that these rights are protected. As Garland noted, “This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.”