Florida’s “Operation Holiday Home” Rescues Missing Children

On Monday, Florida officials revealed that “Operation Holiday Home,” a two-week initiative, successfully located or ensured the safety of 122 missing children and led to six felony arrests.

The operation, spearheaded by the U.S. Marshals Service, involved collaboration across Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Fort Myers, and also extended to nine other states. According to Attorney General James Usmayer’s office, the children’s ages varied from just 23 months to 17 years.

In a press release, Usmayer stated, “Thanks to one of the largest child rescue operations in U.S. history, 122 missing children have been found safe. Many of these children have suffered in unimaginable ways, and we will pursue their abusers aggressively through the legal system.”

Usmayer tweeted that the commitment to locate all missing children remains strong. He added, “And to the predators who prey on and abuse our little ones, we will come for you and prosecute to the fullest extent.”

The operation resulted in the recovery of 57 children in the Tampa Bay area, 14 in Orlando, 22 in Jacksonville, and 29 in Fort Myers, with some cases linked to out-of-state addresses. U.S. Marshal William Berger described the effort as community-driven, expressing pride in the agency’s significant role.

Usmayer shared the operation’s results at a press conference in Tampa, which was also broadcasted on X. His office noted the collaboration with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and child welfare partners to mobilize investigators and victim specialists to assist at-risk youth with necessary services. Additionally, the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecutors is pursuing multiple felony cases that emerged from this initiative, including accusations of child sexual assault and custody interference.

Officials drew comparisons to Operation Dragon Eye, conducted in June, which successfully recovered 60 critically ill missing children in Central Florida, noting that this recent effort greatly surpassed that earlier operation. Authorities are urging families with any information about missing or at-risk children to reach out to law enforcement without delay.