U.S. Marshals Service in Massachusetts Establishes First Official Missing Child Task Force in Agency History

BOSTON - The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) for the District of Massachusetts, in partnership with the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and Boston Police Department (BPD), today announced the historic establishment of the Massachusetts Missing Child Task Force, the first official missing child task force in the history of the U.S. Marshals Service. This groundbreaking initiative marks a significant milestone in the agency’s commitment to protecting and recovering our nation’s most vulnerable children. This initiative will bring together specialized federal, state, and local law enforcement resources to identify, locate, and safely recover at-risk and endangered missing children throughout Massachusetts.

The creation of the task force follows the extraordinary success of Operation Yellow Card, a U.S. Marshals led multi-agency initiative conducted in connection with the 2026 FIFA World Cup that resulted in the location and safe recovery of 48 critically endangered missing children from Massachusetts. The operation demonstrated the extraordinary results that can be achieved through strong federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships.

Building upon this historic success, the newly established task force will initially consist of personnel from the U.S. Marshals Service, MSP, and BPD, bringing together specialized investigative expertise, intelligence resources, and operational capabilities into a sustained, coordinated effort dedicated to locating and safely recovering critically endangered missing children. The task force will focus on children at heightened risk of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, violence, abuse, and other serious forms of victimization.

“Today, we are making history in Massachusetts,” said Dennis Matulewicz, head of the United States Marshals Service for the District of Massachusetts. “On the heels of the most successful missing child recovery operation of its kind in our district’s history, we are taking an extraordinary step forward by establishing the first official Missing Child Task Force in the history of the United States Marshals Service. This historic achievement is a direct result of the exceptional partnerships we have built with the Massachusetts State Police and Boston Police Department, whose unwavering dedication and commitment were instrumental in safely recovering 48 endangered missing children during Operation Yellow Card.” Matulewicz continued, “The creation of this task force demonstrates that our mission does not end with the success of one operation. There are children from Massachusetts who remain missing, vulnerable, and at risk of exploitation, violence, and unimaginable harm. These children cannot afford to wait, and neither can we. Through this historic task force, we are making a lasting commitment to unite the very best of federal, state, and local law enforcement to find these children, protect them from further victimization, and bring them home safely.”

“Protecting those most vulnerable to exploitation is among our most important responsibilities and top priorities. The establishment of this first-of-its-kind task force strengthens our ability to fulfill this mission by bringing together the resources, expertise, and commitment of the Massachusetts State Police, U.S. Marshals Service, and Boston Police Department," said Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble. "Through this partnership, we are united in our efforts to locate missing children, bring them to safety, and connect them with the critical resources and support they need. Finding missing children, while bringing those responsible to justice, reflects the core mission of the Massachusetts State Police and our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of those we serve.”

“The Boston Police Department, in particular our Human Trafficking Unit, works each day to search for missing and endangered children at great risk for violence and exploitation. This partnership is a force multiplier, pulling together the best of our personnel, intelligence and resources with our state and federal law enforcement partners to address serious and heinous crimes,” said Commissioner Michael A. Cox, Boston Police Department.

Critically endangered missing children are among the most vulnerable members of our communities, often facing significant risks of exploitation, trafficking, violence, and other serious harm while missing. Their recovery requires urgent action, specialized investigative capabilities, and close coordination across multiple law enforcement jurisdictions. The establishment of this task force will provide a dedicated, sustained response to these cases, building upon the success of previous missing child recovery operations.

As the federal government’s primary agency for fugitive investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service has earned a national reputation for its exceptional expertise in locating and apprehending some of the nation’s most dangerous and elusive fugitives. In 2025 alone, the USMS apprehended more than 73,000 fugitives nationwide, averaging nearly 300 arrests per operational day. The newly established task force will leverage the same specialized investigative techniques, intelligence capabilities, and extensive law enforcement partnerships that have made the USMS a national leader in fugitive apprehension, applying those proven capabilities to one of the most urgent and consequential missions in law enforcement: locating critically endangered missing children, protecting them from exploitation and harm, and bringing them safely home to their families.

The task force also builds upon the U.S. Marshals Service’s nationally recognized Missing Child Program and the authorities provided under 28 U.S.C. § 566 and the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, which expanded the agency’s authority to assist federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in locating and recovering missing children. Through this first of its kind task force, participating law enforcement agencies will strengthen investigative coordination, intelligence sharing, and operational partnerships to provide a sustained response to missing child cases throughout Massachusetts.

Since the passage of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, the U.S. Marshals Service has contributed to the location and recovery of more than 5,500 missing children nationwide. Building upon this national record of success, the District of Massachusetts has made significant contributions to the agency’s missing child recovery mission. Since 2020, the district has located and recovered 121 missing children, with approximately 72% located or recovered within seven days of the district’s involvement in their cases. In 2026 alone, the district has located and recovered 50 missing children, with approximately 74% located or recovered within seven days. These results underscore the importance of specialized investigative capabilities, rapid response, and coordinated law enforcement partnerships in protecting vulnerable children.

As the birthplace of this historic initiative, Massachusetts is helping advance the U.S. Marshals Service’s nationwide missing child recovery mission. The establishment of this task force represents more than an organizational milestone; it is a lasting investment in protecting vulnerable children, built upon the extraordinary results achieved through strong federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships. Together, the U.S. Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, and Boston Police Department remain united in their commitment to ensuring that missing children receive the attention, resources, and coordinated law enforcement response they deserve.

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

For additional information about Operation Yellow Card and the recovery of 48 endangered missing children, visit:
https://www.usmarshals.gov/news/press-release/48-endangered-missing-children-safely-recovered-during-us-marshals-led-operation