“Operation Lightning Bug” Rescues More Than 30 Children from Human Trafficking in Texas.
Child trafficking has reached critical levels in our country for years. With four years of open borders under the Biden regime, it’s no surprise how many children have been exploited.
Thanks to the cooperation between federal and local law enforcement, more than 30 missing children have been rescued from trafficking operations in Texas.
The mission, called “Operation Lightning Bug,” is a joint operation organized by U.S. Marshals based in Texas, along with the San Antonio Police Department, in an effort to locate and identify at-risk children and help facilitate rescue and recovery efforts.
The efforts and cooperation of federal and local authorities produced significant results. Three people were arrested for harboring runaway children, five new child trafficking investigations were launched, nine felony arrest warrants were executed, 30 missing children were located, six child victims of sex trafficking were rescued and referred to support services, and more than 120 children voluntarily returned home.
The San Antonio Police Department’s Special Victims Unit took time with each recovered child to determine whether they had been victimized and whether they should be placed in long-term care with agencies such as HHS to ensure their safety.
The U.S. Marshals Service has made child safety one of its top priorities. This was reflected in a statement from U.S. Marshal Susan Pamerleau:
“The safety of our children is the safety of our communities, and justice demands that we protect those who cannot protect themselves,” said Pamerleau. “Through Operation Lightning Bug, we reaffirm our promise to protect the most vulnerable and strengthen the safety of our communities.”
Fox News reported on Marshal Pamerleau’s statement.
The U.S. Marshals also have the authority under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 to rescue children who are missing or endangered.
Kirsta Leeberg-Melton, executive director of the Institute to Combat Human Trafficking, told Fox News Digital that Texas and the country have been dealing with human trafficking for a long time.
She also explained that traffickers target children who have unstable family lives, which can include a lack of food, shelter, or family support.
Leeberg-Melton further explained that traffickers use technology to victimize children—using it both for buyers and for victims.
The Trump administration has continuously worked to protect children by fighting traffickers and making it harder for them to operate at the border. The President closed the border on his first day in office.