The U.S. Marshals Service, in collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies, recently concluded Operation We Will Find You 2, a six-week nationwide effort that resulted in the recovery of 200 critically missing children. This operation, running from May 20 to June 24, 2024, focused on locating children who were at high risk of trafficking, exploitation, and abuse.
The operation spanned multiple locations across the U.S., including Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, and Oregon. Each region was selected based on the high concentration of critically missing children. In total, 123 children were found in dangerous situations, while 77 were located in safe environments.
Significant recoveries included a 16-year-old girl in Michigan who had been controlled and abused by a 30-year-old male. The U.S. Marshals, with assistance from the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, apprehended the suspect and rescued the girl safely. In another case, a 15-year-old girl in Miami-Dade, Florida, was found after becoming a victim of human trafficking. She was rescued by the Marshals and local police after a thorough search.
The operation highlights the importance of interagency cooperation. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 played a crucial role by enhancing the U.S. Marshals’ authority to assist in recovering endangered missing children. This allowed the formation of specialized units like the Missing Child Unit and the Sex Offender Investigations Branch, which were instrumental in training personnel and managing the operation.
Attorney General Merrick Garland praised the efforts, emphasizing the terror faced by missing children and the relief their recovery brings to families and communities. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) also commended the U.S. Marshals for their dedication to protecting vulnerable children.
Operation We Will Find You 2 serves as a reminder of the ongoing epidemic of missing children in the U.S. and the continuous need for dedicated resources and cooperation to ensure their safety and well-being.
