Authorities recover more than 40 missing children during 12-day operation

Authorities rescued more than 40 missing children during a 12-day effort called Operation Northern Lights, led by the United States Marshals Service along with local law-enforcement agencies.

Officials said the children were classified as critically missing, meaning they were at risk of violence, exploitation, or trafficking. Investigators searched across counties and state lines, using door-to-door checks, social media tracking, and coordinated police work to locate them. Authorities stressed that quick action is crucial, as missing children can quickly become targets for human trafficking.