Oregon Joins FBI’s Massive Operation ‘Not Forgotten’ to Tackle Violent Crime in Indian Country

Oregon will be taking part in a nationwide FBI investigation into unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country. Known as Operation Not Forgotten, investigations will include missing and murdered indigenous people.

The Longest and Most Intense Deployment of the FBI

Operation Not Forgotten will be the ‘longest and most intense national deployment’ of the FBI, according to a news release from the Oregon U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The FBI will send 60 operatives to Indian Country, who will operate in three-month temporary duty assignments for six months.

The Oregon operation will be coordinated from the FBI offices in Portland, working in partnership with Tribal law enforcement agencies across the jurisdictions, and with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Thousands of Open Criminal Investigations in Indian Country

At the beginning of 2025, crime statistics in Indian Country nationwide revealed 4,300 open investigations, including the death of more than 900 people, 1,000 child abuse investigations, and more than 500 adult sexual abuse and domestic violence investigations.

The news release says that U.S. Attorney’s Offices will work aggressively to prosecute all case referrals while the FBI, together with the Missing and Murdered Unit of the Bureau of Indian Affairs use modern forensic processing tools to crack cases and hold perpetrators accountable.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi describes the crime rate in American Indian and Alaska Native communities as ‘unacceptably high,’ while Acting U.S. Attorney for Oregon, William M. Narus, says Operation Not Forgotten will provide the resources necessary to address violent crime on tribal lands in the state, and to trace missing persons.

Oregon Operation Will be Coordinated from FBI Portland Office

Welcoming the additional resources, FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Olson says his agents are dedicated to serving local communities and, with the help of partners, will undertake Operation Not Forgotten with vigor and dedication.

Operation Not Forgotten will renew efforts that started during President Donald Trump’s first term when a Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives was established.

This will be the third deployment under Operation Not Forgotten, which in the past two years has provided investigative support to over 500 cases, resulting in the safe recovery of 10 children, 52 arrests, and 25 indictments or judicial complaints.

Expanded resources for Operation Not Forgotten will include placing attorneys and coordinators in U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the nation to respond to cases of missing or murdered indigenous people.