The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) found 200 missing children during a six-week nationwide sting operation that ended last week.
The second, “Operation We Will Find You 2,” took place from May 20 to June 24 in seven federal jurisdictions and territories across the United States, with a focus on areas with an increasing number of seriously missing children.
In a press release, the USMS noted that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (USMEC) assisted in the operation, rescuing and evacuating 123 children from dangerous situations, as well as locating 77 missing children in safe locations.
Of the 200 children, 173 were considered dangerous runaways, 25 were considered missing, one had been abducted by a family member, and one had been abducted by a non-family member.
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The U.S. Marshals Service rescued 200 missing children during a six-week operation between May 20 and June 24. (U.S. Marshals Office)
Additionally, 14 of the rescued children were found outside the city where they had been reported missing, the youngest being just five months old.
Approximately 57% of missing children are found within seven days of USMS helping solve the case.
“Words cannot express the horror felt by missing children, their families, and the communities they serve,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I thank the dedicated professionals at the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who worked tirelessly to locate 200 seriously missing children during this six-week operation and who work every day to keep children safe.”
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The U.S. Marshals Service rescued 200 missing children during a six-week operation between May 20 and June 24. (U.S. Marshals Office)
The operation took place in several locations, including Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon and New York City.
U.S. Marshals worked with federal, state and local law enforcement, NCMEC, the Department of Children and Family Services and other agencies to locate the missing children.
Many of the children were believed to be victims of child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, or suffering from medical or mental illnesses from which they would be difficult to recover.
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Authorities say the children were rescued from a dangerous situation. (U.S. Marshals Office)
For example, on June 13, the USMS located a 16-year-old girl who had gone missing from her home in Edwardsburg, Michigan., On January 11, 2024, by legal guardian.
The investigation revealed that the girl had likely been controlled and abused by an adult male who had reportedly shared photos of cash and firearms on his social media pages, with one photo showing the adult male pointing a handgun with an extended magazine at the missing girl, according to the USMS.
During the rescue operation, USMS responded to an apartment in Hammond, Indiana to apprehend a man who attempted to escape by jumping out of a window. The man was eventually apprehended and arrested. A child was found inside the apartment and subsequently released to Child Protective Services.
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The U.S. Marshals Service rescued 200 missing children during a six-week operation between May 20 and June 24. (U.S. Marshals Office)
In a separate case, a 15-year-old girl was reported missing by her parents on May 13. An investigation revealed that the girl had been a victim of human trafficking in the Miami-Dade, Florida area.
USMS and Miami Police Department officers discovered the girl on the apartment grounds on June 7. She was rescued by the Florida Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Team, interviewed, and released to the Department of Children and Family Services.
“One of the U.S. Marshals Service’s most sacred missions is to locate and rescue our nation’s gravely unaccounted for and missing children,” said U.S. Marshals Chief Ronald L. Davis. “With thousands of children still missing and in danger, this remains one of our top priorities.”
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Fox News Digital reached out to USMS for further comment but did not immediately receive a response.
