Phoenix, AZ – The U.S. Marshals Service, in partnership with state and local agencies across the Phoenix area, as well as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and community partners, located some of the region’s most vulnerable youth. Children who go missing often face significant risks, including exploitation, abuse, and human trafficking. This three-week operation resulted in the safe location of 31 critically missing children, including endangered runaways.

Known as Operation Desert Dawn, the initiative ran from April 13 to May 1, 2026, and included 12 focused days targeting areas with high concentrations of critically missing children. With technical assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the operation safely located 20 children and confirmed the whereabouts of 11 others.

“This operation was about protecting children who were in vulnerable and dangerous situations,” said Van Bayless, U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona. “Each child we located represents a young life removed from the risk of exploitation, abuse, or worse. Through the dedication of our partners, these children now have the opportunity to return to safety and begin moving forward.”

These operations are supported by the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, which expanded the U.S. Marshals Service’s authority to assist in locating missing, endangered, or abducted children, regardless of whether a fugitive or sex offender is involved. The U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit oversees the implementation of this authority nationwide.

Operation Desert Dawn – Arizona Highlights:

    •  Safe location of a 16-year-old female suspected to be a victim of sex trafficking in Glendale
    •  Safe location of an 11-year-old female with mental health concerns
    •  Safe location of a 16-year-old experiencing homelessness and substance use challenges
    •  Safe location of a 17-year-old who had been missing from Phoenix for 18 months
    •  Safe location of a 14-year-old missing from Phoenix, located in Tucson
    •  Safe location of a 17-year-old female suspected to be a victim of sex trafficking in Phoenix

Operation Desert Dawn demonstrates the impact of applying the U.S. Marshals Service’s investigative expertise and fugitive apprehension capabilities to endangered missing children cases. These cases as well as many others continue to be investigated at the Federal, State and local level.  The work of finding missing and endangered children is and will continue to be a top priority of the United States Marshals Service and of the many agencies across Arizona.  

Participating Agencies in the District of Arizona:

    •  Phoenix Police Department 
    •  Glendale Police Department 
    •  Arizona Department of Public Safety 
    •  Arizona Department of Child Safety 
    •  National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Anyone with information regarding missing or endangered children is encouraged to contact local law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.
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Definitions:

Recovery: U.S. Marshals Service personnel or partners located the endangered missing child and removed the child from a dangerous environment. This may include direct physical recovery or coordination with another agency that takes custody of the child.

Locate: U.S. Marshals Service personnel or partners confirmed the whereabouts of the missing child in a safe environment. The child was not removed, as they were determined to be in the custody of a legal guardian, detention facility, social services, or law enforcement, or were no longer a minor.