Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Task Force
The New Mexico legislature enacted Senate Joint Memorial 2 (SJM 2) in Feb 2024, requesting the Attorney General to spearhead a new MMIP Task Force. This task force is crucial to addressing the ongoing MMIP issue affecting Indigenous communities in New Mexico, which has deep roots in colonial violence and systemic inequities.
The Task Force will focus on updating the 2022 State Response Plan to provide legislative recommendations that address the MMIP crisis. The state continues to face challenges such as jurisdictional complexities and underreported cases, particularly among Indigenous women, children, and relatives. Between 2014 and 2019, 16% of missing person cases involved Indigenous people, many of which remain unsolved. Moreover, cities like Albuquerque and Gallup have ranked among the top in the U.S. for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Under the leadership of the Attorney General, the task force will consist of up to 40 members, including representatives from tribal nations, state agencies, law enforcement, and non-governmental organizations, as well as Indigenous survivors and family members of victims. Its goal is to foster collaboration among stakeholders, improve data collection, address jurisdictional barriers, and develop comprehensive recommendations to prevent and respond to cases of missing and murdered Indigenous persons across the state.
This initiative emphasizes New Mexico’s commitment to protecting Indigenous lives and ensuring justice for affected families.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Portal
As part of the Attorney General’s ongoing commitment to address MMIP, the New Mexico Department of Justice launched the Portal for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People in March 2024. This portal provides users with the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on MMIP cases in the state and surrounding regions. Users can also submit tips and request updates or edits to a missing person’s information.
The portal will continue to evolve with additional functionality and features. The next development phase aims to enhance communication about MMIP cases between law enforcement agencies and Indigenous communities across the state. Please check this page for announcements on improvements and updates to the portal.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns related to the MMIP Task Force, the MMIP Portal, or any other issues affecting Indigenous communities in New Mexico, please contact us.