200 missing children were rescued in a nationwide operation conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service and other agencies.

“Operation We Will Find You 2” was a six-week operation conducted in seven federal judicial districts from May 20th to June 24th.

“The U.S. Marshals Service’s six-week “We Will Find You 2″ operation from May 20 to June 24 found 200 missing children with help from @NCMEC. 123 were removed from danger and 77 were found safe. The youngest was 5 months old,” the U.S. Marshals Service stated.

From the U.S. Marshals Service:

With technical assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), Operation We Will Find You 2 resulted in the recovery and removal of 123 children from dangerous situations. An additional 77 missing children were located and found to be in safe locations, according to law enforcement or child welfare agencies. Of the 200 children found, 173 were endangered runaways, 25 were considered otherwise missing, 1 was a family abduction and 1 was a non-family abduction. The youngest child recovered was 5 months old. 14 of the children were found outside the city where they went missing. Additionally, of the missing children recovered, 57 percent were recovered within seven days of the USMS assisting with the case.

“There are no words to describe the terror felt by missing children, their families, and their communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful to the dedicated professionals of the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children who worked to find 200 critically missing children during this six-week operation, and who work every day to keep children safe.”

“One of the most sacred missions of U.S. Marshals Service, is locating and recovering our nation’s critically missing children,” said U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald L. Davis. “This is one of our top priorities as there remain thousands of children still missing and at risk.”

“Operation We Will Find You is a shining example of the results we can achieve when we unite in our mission to find missing children,” said Michelle DeLaune, President and CEO of NCMEC. “We are grateful that vulnerable children have been recovered as part of this operation, and we commend the U.S. Marshals Service and all the agencies involved for their commitment to protect youth and ensure these children are not forgotten. Behind every statistic, there is a child who deserves to grow up safe from harm.”

The operation was conducted in the following locations:

  • District of Arizona (Phoenix, Glendale, Goodyear, Tucson, South Tucson, and Pima counties)
  • Eastern District of California (San Joaquin County, Stockton, and Sacramento County)
  • Southern District of Florida (Broward, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties)
  • Western District of Michigan (Kent, Lake, Ingham, Ottawa, counties)
  • Eastern District of North Carolina (New Hanover, Brunswick, Harnett, Onslow, Pitt, Wake, Johnston, Robeson, Cumberland, Sampson, Nash, and Pender counties)
  • The Southern and Eastern districts of New York (New York City)
  • The District of Oregon (Multnomah, Washington, and Deschutes counties, as well as Portland and Eugene, and the Warm Springs Reservation)

WATCH:

Fox News reports:

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 considered to be in challenging recovery cases, including child sex trafficking, child exploitation, sexual abuse, physical abuse and suffering from medical or mental health conditions.

For instance, on June 13, USMS recovered a 16-year-old girl who was reported missing from her home in Edwardsburg, Michigan, by her legal guardian on Jan. 11, 2024.

An investigation determined the child was likely being controlled and abused by an adult man, who reportedly shared photos of cash and firearms on his social media page. In one photo, USMS said, an adult man was pointing a handgun with an extended magazine at the missing child.

During the rescue, USMS went to arrest the man at an apartment in Hammond, Indiana, when he jumped out of a window and attempted to flee. He was ultimately apprehended and arrested. The child was located inside the apartment before being released to child protective services.

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