New Mexico lawmakers propose "Turquoise Alert" for missing Indigenous women

State legislators in New Mexico are proposing a new bill to for statewide missing persons alerts.

State Sen. Angel Charley (D-Acoma) and State Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta (D-To’hajiilee) are sponsoring Senate Bill 41, which aims to implement a statewide “Turquoise Alert” system for when Indigenous people go missing.

Currently 198 Indigenous people are currently missing from New Mexico and the Navajo Nation, according to the FBI.

“In New Mexico on any given day, we know that there are hundreds of missing Native Americans. We also know that the first 48 hours are crucial to finding someone,” Josette Monette, New Mexico Indian Affairs Secretary said on Friday.

Monette also stated that the alert system would function similarly to Amber Alerts to ensure these crucial hours are not missed.

If passed, the bill would amend the state Missing Persons Information and Reporting Act to include a Turquoise Alert. The New Mexico Department of Public Safety would develop a plan to disseminate these alerts to law enforcement and the public quickly.

Similar legislation has been passed in Colorado, Washington and California. Washington State has issued 114 alerts since implementing its system, locating 111 of those missing individuals. Utah is also working to reinstate their Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives task force.