Operation Overview
Operation Desert Dawn was a coordinated federal initiative conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service that ran for three weeks from April 13 through May 1, 2026. The operation focused on locating critically missing children and endangered runaways in the Phoenix Valley, particularly in areas with high concentrations of at-risk youth. U.S. Marshal Van Bayless stated the operation was about protecting children in vulnerable and dangerous situations, with each recovered child representing a young life removed from the risk of exploitation, abuse, or trafficking.
Recovery Results
The operation successfully recovered 31 missing children in total. Of these, 20 children were safely located and taken into custody or protective care, while the locations of 11 additional missing children were confirmed. The operation targeted youth at risk of exploitation, abuse, and human trafficking across multiple Phoenix-area locations.
Notable Cases
Among the children recovered were a 17-year-old who had been missing from Phoenix for 18 months, a 16-year-old female suspected victim of sex trafficking in Glendale, another 17-year-old female suspected sex trafficking victim in Phoenix, a 14-year-old missing from Phoenix found in Tucson, a 16-year-old experiencing homelessness and substance abuse, and an 11-year-old female with mental health concerns.
Interagency Coordination
The operation was supported by the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 and involved collaboration between multiple agencies and community partners. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, local law enforcement, and various community organizations worked together with U.S. Marshals to conduct targeted enforcement and safely locate the children. 
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