The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Iron Pursuit, a one-month nationwide enforcement effort that located more than 200 child victims and led to the arrest of over 350 alleged child sex abuse offenders between April 1 and April 30, 2026. Every single one of the FBI’s 56 field offices and U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country participated. This is what happens when a Justice Department actually prioritizes going after the people who prey on children. In one month, the FBI identified and located 200+ child victims and arrested 350+ child sex abuse offenders across all 56 field offices 192 of those arrests on federal charges Highest takedown number in any Violent Crimes Against Children operation in the last year.… pic.twitter.com/wBtUbTDacm — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 9, 2026 FBI Director Kash Patel made clear that the Bureau is working around the clock to dismantle networks of child abusers, calling the operation the latest success after what DOJ described as a record year in which the FBI identified and rescued more than 6,300 missing children. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche had a blunt message for child predators: the government is coming for them. According to the Justice Department: Operation Iron Pursuit was a one-month nationwide enforcement effort that ran from April 1 through April 30, during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The operation mobilized all 56 FBI field offices and their partnering U.S. Attorneys’ offices to identify and locate child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators across the country. More than 200 child victims were located and over 350 alleged child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche warned that sexual exploitation of minors has no place in society and that the full weight of the Justice Department would be brought against offenders. FBI Director Kash Patel said the FBI works every day to break networks of child abusers and that agents across the country are working 24/7 to protect innocent children. The alleged crimes ranged from sexual exploitation and sex trafficking to abuse, kidnapping, and the possession, distribution, or receipt of child sexual abuse materials. Among the cases DOJ highlighted, one stands out as particularly disturbing. A 10-year-old child from Utah was recovered and flown home from Cuba to the child’s biological mother. According to the Justice Department, the child was supposed to be on a camping trip with a transgender parent, a partner, and another child. Instead, the group flew from Canada to Mexico and then to Cuba. DOJ said concerns existed that the child had been taken to Cuba for gender reassignment surgery. A 10-year-old. The FBI’s Victim Services Division assisted with the recovery and provided crisis support and stabilization for the child. FBI Announces Major Nationwide Child Exploitation Crackdown Under Operation Iron Pursuit The Federal Bureau of Investigation says “Operation Iron Pursuit” led to the identification and recovery of more than 200 child victims and the arrest of over 350 alleged child sex… pic.twitter.com/GlglPIbyai — Washington Eye (@washington_EY) May 9, 2026 According to the Justice Department: DOJ detailed several examples of alleged offenders swept up in the operation. In Columbus, Ohio, a man pleaded guilty to creating AI-generated obscene material depicting adults and children and cyberstalking former partners. In the District of Columbia, a man was charged with producing child pornography. In New York, a man was charged with sexually exploiting a child, and in Pennsylvania, a man and former felon was charged with sexually exploiting a child and illegally possessing a firearm. All charged defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The Justice Department noted that Operation Iron Pursuit followed three major enforcement operations conducted in 2025: Operation Relentless Justice, Operation Enduring Justice, and Operation Restore Justice, each of which resulted in hundreds of children rescued and offenders arrested. DOJ encouraged the public to report suspected child exploitation through 1-800-CALL-FBI, tips.fbi.gov, local FBI field offices, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The scope of this operation is hard to overstate. More than 350 arrests in 30 days, coast to coast, targeting every category of child predator from hands-on abusers to traffickers to people generating AI child abuse material. It was a coordinated, nationwide law enforcement campaign with real results. Under President Donald Trump, the DOJ and FBI have made protecting children a centerpiece of their enforcement agenda. Four major operations in roughly a year, thousands of children identified and rescued, and a clear message to predators that there is no safe harbor. The adults in charge are finally acting like it.