Operation Aims to Find Missing Children in San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The US Marshals Service (USMS) Lone Star’s escape task force has partnered with the San Antonio Police Department in an effort to locate 30 missing children. During a two-week initiative dubbed “lightning bolt manipulation,” investigators also initiated five new human trafficking cases.

This operation occurred from July 28 to August 15, targeting all juveniles classified as missing in the Texas Crime Information Center, along with resources from the Greater San Antonio Regional National Crime Information Center database. Various law enforcement agencies collaborated to gather intelligence, which informed an operational plan that successfully led to child recoveries and exposed trafficking activities in Alamo City.

On Wednesday, former US SE Jose Nunez shared the outcomes of the operation, which successfully rescued a missing child and provided evidence for a new human trafficking investigation.

In addition to finding the child, Nunez mentioned that the task force executed nine felony arrest warrants, made three arrests related to runaways, offered assistance to six survivors of human trafficking, and encouraged over 120 other juveniles to return home.

After locating the juvenile, detectives from the Special Victim Unit at the San Antonio Police Station conducted interviews to assess any potential harm. Survivors were given immediate access to victim services through partner organizations, including health and welfare support. According to Nunez, the aim was to ensure these services extend beyond mere rescue to foster long-term safety and stability.

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus commended the task force officers, stating, “Every arrest made, the return of the boy, and the care provided to the survivors were all significant outcomes.”

The 2015 Trafficking Act has allowed the US Marshals Service greater discretion in assisting with the recovery of missing, at-risk, or exploited children, regardless of whether a fugitive or sex offender is involved. Following this authority, USMS operates missing children units that respond to requests from law enforcement agencies nationwide. Initiatives like “Operation Lightning Bug” will be implemented for the nationwide rescue of children.

The fruitful actions in San Antonio were made possible through the collaboration of multiple agencies, including the San Antonio Police Department, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Public Safety Department, the Texas Attorney General’s Office, the Navy Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Texas Criminal Justice Commission, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).