This bill would create a statewide missing Indigenous alert system in Arizona

Each year, thousands of people go missing nationwide whose cases fall outside the criteria for law enforcement to sound the alarm, but a new bipartisan bill would create a unique alert system in Arizona, specifically for missing tribal members.

Arizona House Bill 2281 would establish an alert system used in instances when an Indigenous person has gone missing amid unexplained or suspicious circumstances.

“If they’re from Utah or New Mexico or human trafficking, they will travel through the Navajo Nation,” said state Democratic Rep. Mae Peshlakai, who is Diné and a bill co-sponsor, “and if everybody is aware of the alert system, then they will get busted.”

Run by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, this system would be similar to the Amber Alert for children and Silver Alert for seniors. Last week, Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community urged support during the annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day.

“Now, other states across the West have already passed such legislation, so we have much to learn from,” Lewis said from the Senate floor. “This has been done elsewhere, and we should take this as an opportunity ... and take steps to protect our Indigenous, men, women and children this year.”

“The moment that Gov. Lewis mentioned it, it was clear that there were no questions about it for me,” said Arizona Democratic Rep. Brian Garcia, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, “and we need to take action and this is what’s that's doing, I think this is in alignment with what Indian Country in Arizona needs right now.”

Republican House Majority Whip Teresa Martinez sponsored the bill. She got buy-in from her statehouse Indigenous colleagues: Garcia, Peshlakai and Myron Tsosie, a member of the Navajo Nation.

“We have not set the agenda yet, but I feel very good about the chances of that bill coming out of committee,” Martinez said. “We wanted them involved and them to be a part of it, and they were very happy to; I’m hopeful for the bill.”

Washington, Colorado and California have similar Indigenous alert systems.