MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Justice released video footage Monday showcasing Operation We Will Find You, a nationwide initiative involving federal, state and local agencies aimed at rescuing missing children from danger.
The operation, which ran from May 20 to June 24, focused on areas with high concentrations of critically missing children.
“The goal of Operation We Will Find You on both a local and national level has been to locate critically missing children, and to bring more attention to the epidemic of missing children in our community and in America,” said Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “It focused on geographical areas with high clusters of critically, missing children, and this was done throughout the nation.”
Miami-Dade County leaders held a news conference Monday to announce the local results of the operation.
“In Miami-Dade County alone, there were 31 recoveries made, and across the southern district of Florida, we recovered 55 critically endangered or missing children,” said Deputy Chief Joel Church of the U.S. Marshals.
Data from the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office highlighted the urgency of the mission, noting that Florida ranks third in the number of missing child reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Nationally, one in three teens are recruited for commercial sex within 48 hours of running away, making timely intervention critical, according to officials.
“These children are often desperate for love and attention, and they come from families weakened often by trauma,” said Fernandez Rundle.
In 2021, NCMEC assisted in 25,000 reported cases of missing kids, with one in six likely victims of child sex trafficking.
“There are victims out there, and we have the officers and investigators to spearhead efforts and ensure these perpetrators are put behind bars,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Felipe Williams of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Williams says the operation underscores the ongoing commitment to locate and protect missing children, emphasizing the importance of swift action and collaboration among various agencies.
Click here for more information on the operation.