FCC Creates Alert System for Missing Indigenous People

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced the launch of a new nationwide alert code aimed at addressing the issue of missing and endangered Indigenous individuals who do not qualify for existing Amber or Silver Alerts. This new "MEP" alert code is designed to facilitate timely notifications to the public via cellphones, televisions, and radios, thereby enhancing the ability of law enforcement agencies to respond to cases involving Indigenous persons at risk of violence or abduction. The initiative is part of broader efforts to tackle the alarming disparities in the search and recovery of missing Indigenous individuals in the United States. According to the FCC, Indigenous people are disproportionately affected by violence and are at a higher risk of going missing. The new alert system will enable tribal, state, and local law enforcement to issue alerts for cases that fall outside the traditional criteria for Amber and Silver Alerts, which primarily focus on children and senior citizens, respectively. Willie-Nez, a representative from the Navajo Nation, emphasized the importance of the MEP alert code, stating it will significantly aid in the recovery of missing individuals within tribal communities. Since 2018, the Navajo Nation has successfully issued eight Amber Alerts, all leading to the recovery of missing children. FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks noted that the new code will help close a critical gap in public safety infrastructure, enhancing community awareness and response to missing person cases. Several states have already adopted similar alert systems for missing persons of color, including California's "Feather Alert" for Indigenous individuals and the "Ebony Alert" for missing Black children and young women. These systems aim to improve public engagement and law enforcement response when individuals from marginalized communities go missing.