By Steve Neavling
A U.S. Marshals Service operation led to the discovery of 200 critically missing children over a six-week period, the Justice Department announced Monday.
Operation We Will Find You 2 was conducted from May 20 to June 24 with the help of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and focused on areas with high clusters of missing children.
Missing children are vulnerable to sex trafficking, abuse, and exploitation.
“There are no words to describe the terror felt by missing children, their families, and their communities,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said. “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.”
The operation led to the removal of 123 children from dangerous situations. Another 77 missing children were found in safe locations.
Of the 200 children found, 173 were endangered runaways, 25 were considered otherwise missing, one was a family abduction, and one was a non-family abduction.
The youngest child was five months old.
“One of the most sacred missions of U.S. Marshals Service is locating and recovering our nation’s critically missing children,” said USMS Director Ronald L. Davis. “This is one of our top priorities as there remain thousands of children still missing and at risk.”
Local, state and federal agencies assisted in the operation across seven judicial districts and geographical locations across the country.
