A seek for feedback by the New Mexico task force on a proposal to establish a state-level office solely addressing cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP). According to Source NM, members of the New Mexico Department of Justice’s MMIP Task Force presented the proposal to state lawmakers during an interim Indian Affairs Committee hearing, November 12 in Santa Fe.
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The proposed office would help improve better coordination among state agencies. Though however, they acknowledged that further expertise and guidance are a must to determine its structure and responsibilities, this is according to one of the member of the Task Force.
New Mexico previously had an MMIP task force under the Indian Affairs Department, but it was discontinued in the year 2023. A new task force under the Department of Justice in 2024 was then established by Attorney General Raul Torrez, following legislative action.
What’s Next
The task force is continuing to gather feedbacks from lawmakers and other stakeholders as it develops the proposal ahead of the upcoming legislative session. Any legislative action would take place during Governor-elect Deb Haaland’s first term, creating an opportunity for the upcoming administration to revisit the state’s approach to this crisis.
The task force is also seeking guidance on how the proposed office would coordinate with existing state agencies and other institutions.
Why It Matters
Missing and Murdered Indigenous People remains a serious concern for Indigenous communities, particularly when investigations involve various jurisdictions and agencies. Establishing a dedicated state office that could help create a more coordinated approach in addressing cases, supporting affected families, and improving communications among authorities. This also raises the importance of ensuring that Indigenous communities have a meaningful role in shaping the state’s response to the crisis.
About This Story
Daily Reports is Brant.One's news roundup. Each day we gather the New Mexico stories worth knowing from newsrooms across the state, sum them up and point you to the source. This one comes from Source NM's reporting, and their original story has the interviews and full details. The original story was reported by Joshua Bowling.
