Close Ad

Heroic FBI Investigators Rescue 33 Missing Kids From Child-Trafficking Predators
FBI agents
(Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Everyday Heroes

Heroic FBI Investigators Rescue 33 Missing Kids From Child-Trafficking Predators

A recent FBI operation made national headlines and uncovered the disturbing rise of child exploitation.


Youth at risk

We often think of child-trafficking as something "out there," far removed from our safe streets and neighborhoods. The reality, however, is quite different.

According to one study, up to 300,000 American children "may be at risk of commercial sexual exploitation at any time". The odds increase for children who are homeless or in foster care.

Hot Stories

For those in the front lines of law enforcement, trafficking is a daily reality.

"the FBI and our partners investigate child sex trafficking every day of the year and around the clock."

- Kristi K. Johnson, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office

'Lost Angels'

The FBI kicked off 2021 by rolling out operation The Lost Angels, a joint initiative with over two dozen law enforcement and advocacy groups.

The mission: locate and recover missing children.

Overall, 33 children —eight of whom were being actively sexually exploited, several of whom had been exploited in the past, and one who had been kidnapped— were rescued.

Once the children are brought to physical safety, the real challenge is dealing with emotional trauma and confusion.

"Victims may not self-identify as being trafficked or may not even realize they're being trafficked."

- FBI Statement

Even after being rescued, many victims return to trafficking "by force, fraud or coercion" while others "have been taught to think that sex trafficking is the only way they can survive on the streets", according to Newsweek.

Protect our children, protect our future

Despite the successful operation, the situation is dire. The FBI says that cases for "both sex and labor trafficking-related crimes have increased significantly in the past several years."

"Human trafficking is a pervasive and insidious crime that threatens the safety of our young people, who are the future of our communities."

- Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore 

Our society of tomorrow will only be as healthy as our children of today. By speaking up against child trafficking, we're ensuring it's in good hands.

For news stories, use this:

Why Jennifer Hudson Forgave Her Mother's Killer -- Life Stories By Goalcast

At the peak of her career, Jennifer Hudson faced a horrific family tragedy. Hudson's mother and brother were brutally attacked in their family home, and her seven-year-old nephew was kidnapped. What followed was a heart-wrenching manhunt to rescue her nephew and seek justice against the man who took her family. Hudson speaks from the heart in this video on what happened to her family and how she was able to move forward.

Celebrities
People smiling in unison united
Racism Quotes

Racism is considered the marginalization and/or oppression of people of color based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that privileges another race. The term is applied in many areas of a society that perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race or strengthen racial inequalities in education, health care, income, and civil rights.

Ever since the 20th century, the concept of biological race is considered a cultural invention that has no scientific basis. The progress over the past half-century has been impressive, but the nation still has a long way to go to reach true racial equality.

Keep ReadingShow less
Everyday Heroes
hands are put together as part of community volunteer efforts
Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

A community is so much more than people sharing a space. It's a living, breathing network of connections and shared experiences. While it's usually defined as “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common,” true community runs much deeper than that.

Diversity

Keep ReadingShow less
Quotes