The Department of Justice announced on May 5 the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month nationwide effort to locate child victims of sex abuse and arrest suspected offenders. The operation, which ran from April 1 to April 30, led to the identification of more than 200 child victims and the arrest of over 350 individuals accused of various child sexual abuse offenses. Eight arrests were made in the Eastern District of Michigan.
Operation Iron Pursuit involved all 56 FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country. The announcement comes during National Child Abuse Prevention Month, recognized by the Administration for Children and Families each April.
“This operation puts every child predator on notice: we are coming for you,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The sexual exploitation of minors is an abomination with no place in our society. We will hunt down these offenders, hold them fully accountable under the law, and deliver justice for victims.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said, “Every single day this FBI is working 24/7 to break networks of child abusers all across this country. Last year we joined our partners delivering a record year, identifying and rescuing over 6,300 missing children, and today’s announcement of Operation Iron Pursuit is just the latest success in that work — with over 200 victims located and over 350 offenders arrested. Let this be a message to criminal actors who seek to target America’s children: you will be pursued, and you will be brought to justice.” United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., stated: “Creeps work in the shadows to hurt our children. But we work harder with our partners to find those creeps, bring them to light, and prosecute them. We do it to protect American children.” Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge at FBI Detroit Field Office added: “Our participation in Operation Iron Pursuit is another example of the work we do every day in Michigan to protect children and hold predators accountable… whose work continues to safeguard our communities and protect children from those who seek to harm them.”
Victims included a ten-year-old from Utah who was flown home from Cuba along with their biological mother after concerns arose about possible gender reassignment surgery abroad; crisis support was provided by FBI Victim Services Division (VSD). Those arrested face charges including sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, kidnapping, possession or distribution of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), among others.
Previous operations—Relentless Justice (December 2025), Enduring Justice (August 2025), Restore Justice (May 2025)—resulted collectively in hundreds more rescues and arrests related to similar crimes.
The FBI’s VSD provided forensic interviews as well as referrals for medical or mental health resources during Operation Iron Pursuit.
The Department encourages anyone suspecting child exploitation or abuse cases report information via FBI tipline at tips.fbi.gov or by calling local field offices.
