January 1, Operation We Will Find You: DOJ Rescues 200 Children and Makes Arrests

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Monday that the U.S. Marshals had rescued over 200 missing children and arrested three individuals as their six-week operation, “Operation We Will Find You 2” (OWWFY2), concluded. This operation, which spanned from May 20 to June 24, involved collaboration between various federal, state, and local agencies across seven federal judicial districts.

According to the press release, 123 children were rescued from dangerous circumstances, while 77 were found in safe conditions, as verified by law enforcement or child welfare agencies. Among those recovered, 173 were endangered runaways, 25 were categorized as otherwise missing, one was a victim of family abduction, and one was involved in a non-family abduction.

A child as young as five months was among those rescued, and 14 children were found outside their city of disappearance. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland expressed his gratitude for the efforts, stating, “There are no words to describe the terror felt by missing children, their families, and their communities. 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 was conducted across multiple locations, including Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, and Oregon. These teams focused not only on locating missing children but also on confirming their safety and addressing the severe risks of child sex trafficking, exploitation, and other abuses, according to the DOJ.

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