Federal agents have completed a nationwide operation to rescue lost children, saving over 200 minors in a sweeping effort to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
The U.S. Marshals Service completed a sweeping nationwide operation christened “We will find you” in which the agency succeeded in recovering 169 children, while 56 have been safely located for rescue.
Of these, 42 were found in the same city where they were originally lost, while 10 were discovered south of the border in the United Mexican States.
The overwhelming majority of those recovered, 86%, were endangered runaways, while a smaller portion consisted of family abductions, 9%, with the remainder miscellaneously missing. The youngest among the rescued was an infant, only six months old.
“The U.S. Marshals Service is fully committed to the important mission of protecting the American people, especially our most vulnerable population—our children,” said Ronald Davis, director of the Marshals Service. “The results of this operation underscore that commitment, but also highlight the necessity of these critical efforts.”
“‘Operation We Will Find You’ is a great example of how the U.S. Marshals Service continues to prioritize child protection,” said Michelle DeLaune, president and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
While the operation was successful in rescuing the aforementioned individuals, the number recovered barely makes a dent in the total number of missing children.
The Marshals Service estimates that there are about 30,000 children missing throughout the United States, many victims of kidnapping or runaways from foster care or troubled homes.
These minors are liable to be exploited by adults with nefarious intentions, exposing them to danger and irreversible harm to their physical and psychological well-being.
Individuals with knowledge of the whereabouts of missing children are instructed to contact their local police department or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which can be reached at 1-800-The-Lost.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.