Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined attorneys general from 38 other states and territories in urging Congress to pass the Tribal Warrant Fairness Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at expanding federal law enforcement support for tribal communities.
In a joint letter to Congress, the attorneys general called for passage of the bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla. The legislation would authorize the U.S. Marshals Service to assist tribal law enforcement agencies in locating and recovering missing children and apprehending violent fugitives. Under current law, the Marshals Service may only provide this assistance to state, local and other federal law enforcement agencies.
The letter cites the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), which disproportionately impacts Native American communities, as a key reason for expanding federal authority.
According to the letter, the Tribal Warrant Fairness Act would expand the U.S. Marshals Service’s authority to assist tribal law enforcement with locating missing children, allow tribal law enforcement officers to participate in the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Apprehension Task Force, enable tribes to locate and apprehend fugitives through task forces and other lawful means, and require federal consultation with tribes during implementation.
Joining Brown in signing the letter were the attorneys general of American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
