Numerous agencies combined resources for “Operation Lost Souls” and rescued 70 missing youth. Children aged 10 through 17 were victims of sex trafficking as well as runaways who had been victims of physical and sexual abuse.
The operation located and rescued victims in Texas, Colorado and Mexico.
All children rescued and their families were provided victim services and counseling by a variety of agencies. The press release from ICE.GOV does not mention what happened to those children who had been abused by their families.
Unfortunately, NEWS4SA reports that at the press conference:
No arrests in connection to the recovered children were announced by the agencies, but it was said that “the multi-agency operation produced additional information and leads that HSI is investigating.”
News4SanAntonio
Hopefully, the Department of Justice can find time to prosecute the traffickers that were responsible before they find another 70 victims.
How did they find so many children?
A good question you might ask. The reality is that dozens of agencies came together for this feat:
Assisting agencies included the following: HSI Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Attache Office, West Texas Anti-Gang Center, Texas Highway Patrol, El Paso Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, El Paso County Constables, Socorro (Texas) Police Department (SPD), Department of Family and Protective Services, El Paso Independent School District Police Department, Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission, and the Juvenile Probation Department.
These agencies also assisted: San Angelo (Texas) Police Department, Tom Green (Texas) County Sheriff’s Office, Odessa (Texas) Police Department, Ector (Texas) County Sheriff’s Office, Ector County Independent School District Police Department, Midland (Texas) County Sheriff’s Office, Midland County Independent School District, Midland Juvenile Probation Department, Advocacy Center for Children of El Paso, Paseo Del Norte Center of Hope, the El Paso Center for Children, Midland Rape Crisis and Children’s Advocacy Center, Harmony Home Children’s Advocacy Center, Midland Memorial Hospital SANE Nurses, and Medical Center Hospital SANE Nurses.
This accomplishment reminds me of a quote I saw recently:
“While we are waiting for God’s intervention, God is waiting for our collaboration.” John Dominic Crosson.
