FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that the bureau has dramatically intensified its nationwide search operations for missing minors in 2025, resulting in an unprecedented number of successful recoveries.
According to Patel, more than 6,000 children have already been safely reunited with their families, which represents a 25 percent increase compared with the same timeframe last year.
Patel stated that the remarkable rise in recoveries demonstrates the agency’s renewed focus on protecting vulnerable children across the United States.
He noted during an interview for EpochTV that the results speak for themselves, emphasizing that the bureau will continue pushing these operations forward.
Coordinated efforts between federal teams and local law enforcement have led to hundreds of recoveries across different states.
Florida authorities reported locating 122 missing minors, while the Memphis region recorded over 100 recoveries within just two months, a situation previously highlighted by Resist the Mainstream.
Hawaii also reported that 10 missing children were found in October through a joint federal and state enforcement initiative, according to The Epoch Times.
These operations reflect a larger nationwide effort to combat child exploitation and trafficking.
Since returning to office, President Trump has repeatedly promoted expanded federal involvement in cities facing elevated public safety issues.
Federal agents and National Guard personnel have been deployed to Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and Memphis under programs such as Operation Summer Heat.
Trump has also suggested extending these interventions to additional cities that face similar concerns.
Patel shared that in September alone the FBI located more than 4,700 missing children, marking a 35 percent increase over the previous year.
During that same period the bureau arrested 1,500 child predators, a 5 percent increase, along with 300 human traffickers, which represents a 10 percent rise.
These figures highlight the bureau’s continued commitment to rescue efforts as well as the pursuit of offenders.
Federal officials have also credited the Trump administration with helping locate nearly 30,000 missing illegal immigrant children this year.
White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed the numbers and emphasized strengthened government programs aimed at identifying and protecting minors who enter the country without guardians.
While federal actions have produced significant results, some Democratic leaders argue that certain cities do not require federal intervention.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie stated that crime has declined and the city is experiencing renewed growth, reflecting the broader national debate regarding whether public safety should be handled primarily at the federal or local level.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported that roughly 30,000 children were listed as missing in 2024.
According to FBI data released in September, about 90 percent of those cases have now been resolved, demonstrating the impact of intensified recovery missions nationwide.
Through combined enforcement efforts, inter agency collaboration and expanded federal support, authorities have significantly increased the number of children located this year.
These operations continue to strengthen a wider national system aimed at defending minors from exploitation and trafficking.
Lawmakers and communities across the country now weigh how far federal involvement should go as the focus on public safety and child protection remains a top priority.