Attorney General Gentner Drummond of Oklahoma is leading a coalition of 39 state attorneys general in urging Congress to pass the Tribal Warrant Fairness Act. The proposed legislation aims to provide tribal communities with the same access to federal law enforcement resources as other jurisdictions.
The group sent a letter supporting the bill, which was introduced by U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). If enacted, the Act would allow the U.S. Marshals Service to assist tribal law enforcement agencies in finding missing children and apprehending violent fugitives. Currently, such assistance is limited to state, local, and other federal agencies.
“Tribal communities deserve equal access to federal law enforcement resources,” Drummond said. “This legislation will help protect Native American children and increase public safety across Oklahoma by ensuring our tribal partners have the skilled assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service when they need it most.”
The letter from the attorneys general emphasizes the urgency of addressing Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), a problem that affects Native American communities at higher rates than others.
“We applaud Congress’s continued efforts to increase tribal law enforcement agencies’ full access to federal public safety resources,” the letter states. “The Tribal Warrant Fairness Act is an important next step in a multi-government approach to address MMIP and to ensure equal treatment for our tribal partners.”
If passed, the Tribal Warrant Fairness Act would expand the authority of the U.S. Marshals Service so it can help tribal agencies locate missing children, allow tribal officers to participate in Fugitive Apprehension Task Forces, enable tribes to pursue fugitives through these task forces or other lawful means, and require consultation with tribes on how these changes are implemented.
Drummond also pointed out that Oklahoma has seen positive results from participation in Fugitive Apprehension Task Forces, including arrests for serious crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and rape. He stated that fully integrating tribal law enforcement into these operations could improve fugitive apprehension rates and provide more training opportunities for tribal officers.
