35 Missing Children from Massachusetts Recovered During U.S. Marshals-Led Operation Ahead of FIFA World Cup

Boston, MA – The United States Marshals Service (USMS) District of Massachusetts (D/MA) and partner agencies at the Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police, and Essex, Plymouth, and Suffolk District Attorneys' Offices announce the safe recovery of 35 endangered missing children from Massachusetts during "Operation Yellow Card," a targeted, high-impact missing child operational initiative designed to locate and recover endangered youth within and from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts prior to and throughout the upcoming FIFA World Cup soccer tournament.

In anticipation of the influx of hundreds of thousands of international visitors and spectators to the Boston metropolitan area for the June-July 2026 games, law enforcement agencies have implemented proactive measures to identify and protect vulnerable missing children who have an elevated risk of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation.

Operation Yellow Card commenced its active phase in April 2026 and is slated to run through the conclusion of the tournament. Already, the operation has yielded the successful recovery of 35 vulnerable high risk missing children from Massachusetts from as far away as Georgia and Texas, and the children have been safely reunited with family members or placed with appropriate protective services. In addition, the operation has also generated multiple investigations involving allegations of criminal violations related to kidnapping, human trafficking, and other associated offenses.

"The upcoming FIFA World Cup is a monumental event for Massachusetts, but large-scale international gatherings historically bring a heightened risk of predatory exploitation targeting our communities' most vulnerable youth," said Dennis Matulewicz, (A) United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts. "Operation Yellow Card represents our unyielding commitment to intercepting these threats and securing endangered children before they can be pulled into networks of trafficking and abuse. This operation’s early success in recovering 35 high-risk missing children is a direct result of the extraordinary, seamless cooperation between the U.S. Marshals Service and our outstanding state, local, and federal law enforcement partners across Massachusetts. Together, we are sending an unambiguous message to those who seek to harm children: we are aware, we are acting, and we will never stop looking for those in danger, nor will we relent in pursuing those who prey on them."

"Every missing and vulnerable young person deserves safety and security and to be given the opportunity to live free from the threat of exploitation. Human traffickers prey on our most vulnerable, targeting those who are often isolated or in crisis,” said Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble. “The men and women of the Massachusetts State Police, along with our local and federal partners, have remained laser-focused on the mission of Operation Yellow Card, to locate missing children from around Massachusetts and provide them with the support and protection they deserve.”

“We commend the work being done by the USMS to ensure the recovery and safety of those critically missing,” said Essex District Attorney, Tucker. “Our office is committed to collaborating with our law enforcement partners, service providers and other community organizations to identify and assist victims susceptible to trafficking and exploitation, and providing the support, services, and justice they deserve.”

Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said, “Locating missing and endangered children does not come and go with an international soccer tournament, it is an issue facing our youth year-round. Through our multidisciplinary team's response to child abuse concerns, we have developed a strong and productive partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service. Driven by the shared goal of safeguarding vulnerable youth and ensuring their safe recovery, every collaboration has been met with professionalism, urgency, and a mutual commitment to the children we serve. Our experiences working alongside the U.S. Marshals in locating and recovering missing and at-risk youth has been consistently positive, and we consider them a valued partner in our collective work to protect Plymouth County's most vulnerable young people.”

“We are proud to work with our federal and state partners to make it clear to anyone with any intent of trafficking child victims or engaging in sexual contact with child victims that you will be arrested and you will be prosecuted. The World Cup is bringing enormous benefits to our region, but it also brings the possibility of child exploitation. We and our partners will do everything in our power to prevent victimization and punish anyone who violates our laws." stated Kevin Hayden, Suffolk County District Attorney.

"The Boston Family Justice Center and Boston Police Human Trafficking Unit do this important work year-round. We are always survivor focused as we work to reduce demand. While this work is not new to us, we have increased the scope of our operations to manage the size of this summer’s events. Our partnerships with the Massachusetts State Police, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations Boston Division (FBI), United State Marshal Service, the Suffolk County Children's Advocacy Center and the Support to End Exploitation Now (SEEN) Program are all critical. We also want to thank the hotels in Boston for their partnership," said Commissioner Michael Cox, Boston Police Department. "We continue to lock up human traffickers and to support victims as part of “Operation Yellow Card.” Over the past three months, we have worked proactively with our partners on demand reduction operations connected to FIFA, and this important work will continue. If you have concerns about a young person, or a potential victim of any age, please call 911 immediately.”

During Operation Yellow Card, the USMS D/MA has worked especially close with the Massachusetts State Police High Risk Victims Unit, Boston Police Human Trafficking Unit, and the District Attorney’s Offices from Essex, Plymouth, and Suffolk Counties. The USMS D/MA is also working alongside the following agencies and departments with recovering vulnerable missing children, and the USMS is extremely grateful for their partnerships: HSI Boston, FBI Boston, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, Massachusetts Department of Youth Services, Boston Family Justice Center, and Massachusetts Office of the Commissioner of Probation-Interstate Compact Unit.

Leaning on the specialized frameworks established under federal law, Operation Yellow Card leverages the unique statutory authority granted to the USMS under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) of 2015. The JVTA empowers the USMS with discretionary authority to support state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies, upon request, on missing child cases, specifically prioritizing "critically missing" children involving factors of foul play, violence, exploitation, or elevated risk indicators.

The U.S. Marshals Service remains fully committed to dedicating its highly refined investigative skillset, regional task force resources, and manpower to support Massachusetts communities. While fugitive apprehension remains a primary mission, protecting vulnerable youth is a core imperative. Operation Yellow Card will continue throughout the FIFA World Cup period as federal, state, and local partners work together to identify vulnerable children, disrupt exploitation networks, and ensure the safety of residents and visitors throughout Massachusetts. Our commitment to recovering high risk missing children will continue beyond our ongoing operation, and recovering our most vulnerable will remain a top priority for the District of Massachusetts.

Historical Context and Critical Statistics:

• Proven Tracking Record: Since the implementation of the JVTA in 2015, the USMS has directly contributed to the location or recovery of over 5,100 missing children nationwide as of mid-2026.

• Rapid Intervention: Data indicates that out of all missing children recovered with USMS assistance, 61% were located within seven days of the agency entering the case, and 84% were safely found within 30 days.

The U.S. Marshals Service encourages anyone with information regarding missing or exploited children to immediately contact local law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 (1-800-THE-LOST).