FBI’s ‘Operation Not Forgotten’ taps Minneapolis field office
The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI are launching Operation Not Forgotten, a new push to clear unresolved cases in Native American communities, and Minneapolis is one of just 11 FBI field offices getting extra resources. The effort targets roughly 4,100 open Indian Country investigations nationwide, with a focus on violence against Native women and children, including death investigations, child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. Federal agents say they will work with tribal, federal and local partners, but Native advocates in Minnesota are already warning that without serious trust‑building, victims’ families and communities won’t feel safe talking to investigators. Nicole Matthews of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition urges DOJ and the FBI to connect directly with the state’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office and local Native organizations, and to be transparent about their intent, before expecting cooperation. The backdrop in the Twin Cities is raw: recent federal immigration crackdowns have already damaged trust in federal agents in Native and immigrant neighborhoods, so how this operation is handled here will determine whether it actually delivers answers or just becomes another DC program announcement.
📌 Key Facts
- DOJ and FBI have launched Operation Not Forgotten to address unresolved cases in Native American communities, with Minneapolis among 11 FBI field offices receiving added resources.
- The FBI says its Indian Country program currently has about 4,100 open investigations, including death investigations, child abuse, domestic violence and adult sexual abuse.
- Native advocate Nicole Matthews is calling for concrete trust‑building steps such as formal collaboration with Minnesota’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office and clearer communication of agents’ intent and purpose.
📊 Relevant Data
The American Indian and Alaska Native population in the United States is approximately 2.09% of the total population, totaling about 6.79 million people.
Native American Population by State 2026 — World Population Review
In 2023, homicide rates among American Indian and Alaska Native people were nearly five times higher than homicide rates among White people.
CDC's Violence Against Native Peoples Fact Sheet — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3 percent) have experienced violence in their lifetime.
Key Statistics — National Congress of American Indians
Complex jurisdictional issues between tribal, state, and federal authorities contribute to high rates of unsolved missing and murdered Native American women cases.
The Disappearance of Native American Women in the U.S. — Human Rights Research
Native Americans are more than twice as likely to live in poverty compared to the general population (26% vs. 12%).
Underlying Causes of Crime in Our Native Communities — National American Indian Housing Council
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