Turquoise Alert System for missing Indigenous people moves through legislature
Lawmakers say data shows, on average, more than 200 Indigenous people are missing in New Mexico. Now, a bill aims to address the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis in the state with a new alert system.
Democratic Senator Angel Charley is the lead sponsor of the bill to create the Turquoise Alert. It would send a statewide notification to law enforcement and the public of an endangered person who belongs to a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe, or pueblo.
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In a previous committee, many supporters urged lawmakers to pass the bill. 'These communities have experienced a radical and rapid rise in missing and murdered individuals for several decades. Creating the Turquoise Alert System will give those communities more resources to slow this epidemic,' said Arturo Castillo with the Conservation Voters New Mexico.
'It's because the lack of speed of awareness that leads to so many cold cases and some families waiting years, even decades for headway in their cases,' said Ryder Jiron with the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women.
However, some committee members expressed doubts on how effective it may be when there are already other alert systems in place. 'What is the actual difference? What's going to be the new process that's going to make us solve this problem?' asked Senator Gabriel Ramos (R-Silver City).
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Senator Charley said the current Amber and Silver alerts are based on age ranges, leaving a big portion of missing Indigenous people out of the statewide alerts, something this bill would address. 'And I understand the concerns are that you may receive way too many alerts, but I think if you keep hearing them, you'll know that there is an issue happening,' said Senator Angel Charley (D-Acoma).
In 2022, the state released a response plan aimed at increasing investigations and prosecuting cases of missing Indigenous people. When presenting the bill, the sponsors said the alert system would help aid in these cases. The bill sailed through today's house committee with unanimous approval. It needs to go through one more committee and then the house floor.
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