ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Police data shows there have been 42 Native Americans who have been reported missing in Albuquerque so far this year and 36 in 2018.

Dawn Begay, the city's Native American affairs coordinator, says the figures represent open missing persons cases in Albuquerque. Figures from U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey show the metro area is home to roughly 50,000 Native Americans.

Of the 36 missing in 2018, 15 were women.

Begay shared the numbers Friday at an event held to highlight the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in New Mexico's largest city.

An Urban Indian Health Institute study last year listed Albuquerque among cities with the highest number of missing Native American women. Authors of the report had counted 37 missing and homicide cases total for Native American women and girls.

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