Indianz.Com > News > House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations holds hearing on cartels in Indian Country
House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations holds hearing on cartels in Indian Country
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Indianz.Com
The House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is holding a hearing to examine the presence of criminal cartels in Indian Country.
Criminal cartels have long targeted federal and tribal lands along the United States borders with Mexico and with Canada. Republican lawmakers claim they are working with the administration of President Donald Trump to address the long-standing problem.
“Cartels and gangs are attracted to federal and tribal land due to higher narcotics prices, vast expanses of rural and frequently unpatrolled terrain, and ongoing jurisdictional challenges that complicate and delay law enforcement responses,” the Republican-drafted hearing memo states. [PDF: Oversight Hearing titled “Examining the Trump Administration’s Work
Combatting Transnational Cartels in Indian Country]
The memo cites executive orders issued by Trump and laws passed by the Republican-led Congress to address border security, particularly along the southern border with Mexico. No witnesses from a region that includes California and Arizona, however, are scheduled to testify.
Instead the subcommittee is hearing from tribal and outside witnesses from Montana and Washington state, where a major drug trafficking ring that targeted the Yakama Nation was disclosed last week. Two federal officials are also scheduled to testify.
The hearing takes place at 2:30pm Eastern in Room 1334 of the. Longworth House Office Building. The witness list follows:
Panel I (Administration Witnesses)Mr. Charles Addington
Principal Director of Justice Services and Law Enforcement for Indian Affairs
U.S. Department of the Interior
Washington, DC Mr. Justin Garris
Acting Section Chief
Violent Crimes Unit
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Washington, DC Panel II (Outside Experts)
The Hon. Frank White Clay
Chairman
Crow Tribe
Billings, Montana Mr. Joshua Roberge
Chief of Police
Fort Belknap Law Enforcement
Fort Belknap, Montana Ms. Stacy Zinn
Former Resident in Charge, Rocky Mountain Division
Drug Enforcement Administration
Billings, Montana Mr. Anthony Hillaire [Minority witness]
Chairman
Lummi Nation
Bellingham, Washington
House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Notice
Examining the Trump Administration’s Work Combatting Transnational Cartels in Indian Country (July 22, 2025)
Relevant Documents
Hearing Notice |
Hearing Memo
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