| U.S. Marshals Recover 200 Missing Children with NCMEC Support The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), in collaboration with federal, state, and local agencies, led a six-week national operation that successfully located 200 critically missing children, including endangered runaways and those abducted by noncustodial persons.
Operation We Will Find You 2 (OWWFY2), the second nationwide operation of its kind focused on missing children, was conducted from May 20 to June 24. The operation targeted areas with high concentrations of critically missing children. Children who go missing are often at serious risk and can become victims of child sex trafficking, abuse, exploitation, and other crimes.
With the technical assistance from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), OWWFY2 achieved the recovery and removal of 123 children from dangerous situations. An additional 77 missing children were located and confirmed to be in safe locations by law enforcement or child welfare agencies. Among the 200 children found, 173 were endangered runaways, 25 were otherwise missing, one was a family abduction, and one was a non-family abduction. The youngest child recovered was five months old.
Additionally, NCMEC provided hundreds of Hope Bags to support this operation. The Hope Bag program offers survivors basic necessities such as clothes, toiletries, and other items they may critically need during the first few hours and days after being recovered.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “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 & Exploited Children who worked to find 200 critically missing children during this six-week operation, and who work every day to keep children safe.”
NCMEC President and CEO Michelle DeLaune added, “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. 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 protecting youth and ensuring these children are not forgotten. Behind every statistic, there is a child who deserves to grow up safe from harm.”This press release was distributed by the DOJ Office of Public Affairs and can be read in its entirety online. |
