Among the names on the FBI’s list are the names of individuals who have been missing since the 1970s.
Navajo County, Arizona — To address the crisis of missing indigenous peoples, the FBI announced a disclosure Monday. List of over 170 Native Americans They are confirmed missing throughout New Mexico and the Navajo Nation, which straddles Arizona and Utah.
FBI officials said at a press conference to identify missing individuals, increase transparency, and encourage relatives of unlisted missing Native Americans to contact local law enforcement and file reports. said the initiative had been made public.
This project is in addition to the FBI’s ongoing efforts to bring attention to unsolved Native American murders and missing persons cases under investigation.
“For so long, the issue of missing Native Americans has been in the news, and many people wonder if anyone is paying attention,” said Raul Boujanda, a special agent for the FBI Division in Albuquerque. “We are here to ensure that the FBI is paying attention and working with partners to take important steps towards justice for these victims, their families and communities. ”
According to FBI officials, the list is the result of nearly six months of work combining and verifying various databases of missing indigenous peoples in New Mexico.
Many records of missing indigenous peoples are incomplete or outdated because the records were not updated after additional details became available or even after the person was found.
The FBI plans to update the names monthly.
Partners involved in this project include the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Indian Affairs Bureau, Office of Judicial Services, New Mexico Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives Task Force, New Mexico Attorney General’s Office, New Mexico Department of Public Safety. , including the New Mexico Department of Indian Affairs. General Affairs, Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office, City of Albuquerque Department of Equity and Inclusion.
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