Govind Tekale
Karmactive Staff
The FBI’s latest strike against child predators delivered a devastating blow to criminal networks across America. Operation Restore Justice, conducted simultaneously by all 55 FBI field offices over five days in late April, resulted in the arrest of 205 child sexual abuse offenders and the rescue of 115 children.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the department’s unwavering stance: “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims—especially child victims—and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us.” She directed prosecutors not to negotiate with these defendants.
FBI Director Kash Patel underscored the operation’s reach and effectiveness: “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach, and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.”
The arrested individuals included people in positions of public trust—law enforcement officers, military personnel, and teachers. They were charged with various crimes including production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking.
Among the notable arrests: A state trooper and Army reservist in Minneapolis was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, Virginia, an illegal alien from Mexico faced charges for transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims.
In Florida alone, five individuals were arrested, including a third-grade teacher who attempted to engage in sexual intercourse with what he believed was an undercover officer’s nine-year-old daughter. The teacher had sent approximately 10 explicit photos and videos of himself, requesting they be shown to the supposed child.
The operation demonstrated the power of community cooperation and rapid response. In one California case, a man was arrested just eight hours after a young victim disclosed their abuse to FBI agents following an online safety presentation at a school. Another arrest resulted from a tip from parents whose child was coerced into sending inappropriate images over social media.
Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, noted: “The amount of child predators arrested during Operation Restore Justice should shock the conscience of any law-abiding citizen and parents or guardians, in particular.”
While the FBI targeted child predators, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shattered its own records for removing criminal aliens. During President Trump’s first 100 days in office, ICE arrested 66,463 illegal aliens and removed 65,682, with three out of four arrests involving criminal aliens.
ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons reported the breakdown of criminal arrests: “ICE alone has arrested over 65,000 illegal aliens—including 2,288 gang members from Tren de Aragua, MS-13, 18th Street and other gangs. Additionally, 1,329 were accused or convicted of sex offenses, and 498 were accused or convicted of murder.”
The criminal records of those arrested included convictions or charges for 9,639 assaults, 6,398 DWIs or DUIs, and 1,479 weapon offenses. ICE arrested 1,155 criminal gang members in the first 50 days alone—nearly two and a half times the 483 arrested during the same period the previous year.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, noncitizens convicted of certain crimes—including “aggravated felonies” and “crimes of moral turpitude”—are subject to mandatory detention and removal. ICE’s Criminal Alien Program operationalizes these statutes by identifying removable aliens in state and local jails.
To put the current enforcement in perspective, ICE made 32,809 enforcement arrests in Trump’s first 50 days—more than the entire fiscal year 2024, which saw 33,242 at-large arrests. This dramatic increase reflects the administration’s renewed focus on interior enforcement.
Recognizing the limitations of traditional enforcement, the Trump administration launched Project Homecoming in May 2025, offering financial incentives for voluntary departure. The program provides $1,000 “exit bonuses” and free government-funded flights to any country willing to accept participants (excluding the United States).
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem explained the cost-effectiveness: “Even with the cost of the stipend, it is projected that the use of CBP Home will decrease the costs of a deportation by around 70 percent. Currently the average cost to arrest, detain, and remove an illegal alien is $17,121.”
The program operates through the CBP Home app, where illegal aliens can submit their “Intent to Depart.” Participants are also deprioritized for detention and removal ahead of their departure, as long as they demonstrate meaningful progress in completing their departure.
Those who decline to self-deport face intensified enforcement protocols under the program’s “full-scale, aggressive deportation surge,” which includes deploying an additional 20,000 enforcement officers. The administration warned that individuals who remain unlawfully may face arrest, prosecution, wage garnishment, fines, and property confiscation.
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The United Nations’ International Organization for Migration confirmed its involvement as an “implementing partner,” assisting with voluntary returns to ensure safe and dignified departures. As one IOM spokesperson noted: “This initiative provides support to those who choose to return, helping them make a life-changing decision with care and clarity.”
Operation Restore Justice builds on decades of FBI child exploitation work. Previous major operations include Operation Broken Heart (2018), which led to 2,300 suspected offender arrests and rescued 383 child victims, and Operation Pacifier (2021), which targeted darknet abuse networks.
These operations fall under Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation. The program marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet.
For those seeking more information about the global scope of such crimes, a recent exposé revealed the extent of organ trafficking operations that victimize vulnerable populations, showing how criminal networks exploit the defenseless on an international scale.
The FBI now uses machine-learning algorithms to triage over 18 million monthly image referrals through its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), dramatically accelerating the identification of priority child sexual abuse material cases.
International cooperation remains crucial, with operations like Joint Hammer involving FBI liaison officers with Interpol and Europol, resulting in over 60 arrests on transnational child-pornography charges since 2008.
Research by the Urban Institute shows that specialized task-force interventions for sex offenders reduce three-year recidivism by 15 percent, underlining the value of coordinated enforcement and post-release supervision.
The American Psychological Association warns that childhood sexual trauma correlates with accelerated biological aging, PTSD, and increased long-term health risks, emphasizing the urgency of removing offenders and supporting victims.
As these operations continue, both child predator investigations and immigration enforcement face ongoing challenges. Rights groups like the ACLU have raised due-process concerns about expedited removals, while victim advocates stress the need for integrated FBI referrals to victim-service providers and trauma-informed care.
The scale of both problems remains substantial. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports a 20% year-over-year increase in online child-exploitation referrals in 2024, while ICE continues to prioritize the removal of criminal aliens who pose the greatest threats to public safety.
The coordinated efforts between the FBI’s child predator operations and ICE’s criminal alien enforcement have been detailed in this report. Operation Restore Justice resulted in 205 arrests and rescued 115 children over five days. ICE completed 66,463 arrests and 65,682 removals in President Trump’s first 100 days, with three-quarters involving criminal aliens.
Project Homecoming was established to provide voluntary departure options with $1,000 exit bonuses and free flights through the CBP Home app. Historical operations like Operation Broken Heart in 2018 were reviewed, along with current technology use including machine-learning algorithms for processing image referrals.
The report covered ICE statistics showing 2,288 gang member arrests, 1,329 sex offense suspects, and 498 homicide suspects among those detained. Expert research on recidivism reduction and victim trauma was noted. Rights group perspectives and victim advocate recommendations were included in the coverage.
Both Operation Restore Justice and Project Homecoming were described as part of federal efforts to address child predator networks and criminal alien enforcement using various tools from traditional law enforcement to voluntary departure programs.
