Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the rescue of more than 120 missing children, calling it the “largest child rescue mission in history.” A multi-regional operation, called “Operation Home for the Holidays,” involved several federal, state, and local agencies. The two-week operation led to the rescue of endangered, missing, and exploited children ranging in age from 23 months to 17 years old. “By now, child predators should know that they are not welcome in Florida,” Uthmeier said. By now, child predators should know that they are not welcome in Florida. pic.twitter.com/tqFxndsb5R — Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) November 17, 2025 Fox News shared more: The rescued children were returned to state custody and connected with recovery services, officials said. Some cases were tied to pornography operations, prostitution, and the drug trade. The children were located in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa. In addition, 13 were found in nine other states and 2 were found in Mexico and Guatemala. Many of them experienced various levels of abuse, including neglect, exploitation, or exposure to other criminal activity. “Many of them have been through the unthinkable,” Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier told “Fox & Friends” on Monday. “They’ve been exploited. They’ve been endangered and in the worst of cases, they’ve been physically, sexually abused.” “One hundred twenty-two children and youth are now safe, and that is a victory for our entire state,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement Deputy Commissioner Vaden Pollard said, according to NBC News. Uthmeier joined U.S. Marshal William Berger at a press conference in Tampa to announce the child rescue mission. Watch the press conference below: Attorney General James Uthmeier joins U.S. Marshal Berger in Tampa to announce largest child rescue mission in history. https://t.co/PHxdn3aFRT — Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) November 17, 2025 NBC News noted: Those arrested, Berger said, were all adults who were hit with charges ranging from “lewd and lascivious to multiple sexual batteries.” He said they expect to make more arrests in the coming weeks. Uthmeier, a Republican appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is best known nationally for spearheading the construction of a controversial immigrant detention center in the heart of the Everglades that he dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.”