Federal Agencies Crack Down on Child Trafficking from Mexico

ICE, CBP, and other federal authorities conduct raids and sweeps to rescue victims and target exploitation networks across the southern border.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 9:20pm

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Federal agencies like ICE, CBP, and the U.S. Marshals Service are working together in coordinated task forces to combat the growing problem of child trafficking from Mexico into the United States. Operations have uncovered human trafficking networks, rescued victims, and opened new criminal investigations, as the number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border has surged in recent years.

Why it matters

The scale of child trafficking from Mexico is closely tied to the influx of unaccompanied minors entering the U.S., with estimates that 75-80% of these children are victims of trafficking. Many of these children disappear from government oversight after being placed with sponsors, highlighting the urgent need for stronger protections and monitoring.

The details

Federal agencies have conducted a series of high-profile operations to target trafficking networks and rescue victims. This includes a January 2026 traffic stop that uncovered an alleged plot to deliver an 8-year-old boy, a February 2026 statewide crackdown in California that resulted in 170 rescues, and a March 2026 operation that identified over 50 missing children. Authorities have also made arrests of criminal illegal aliens convicted of sex crimes against children.

  • In January 2026, Arizona authorities rescued an 8-year-old boy after a traffic stop uncovered an alleged human trafficking plot.
  • In February 2026, Operation Reclaim and Rebuild in California resulted in 170 rescues, including 74 children as young as 13.
  • In March 2026, Operation Safe Return led by the U.S. Marshals Service identified over 50 missing children and rescued 37 of them.

The players

ICE

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a federal law enforcement agency that has played a key role in combating child trafficking from Mexico.

CBP

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a federal law enforcement agency that has worked alongside ICE in these trafficking operations.

U.S. Marshals Service

A federal law enforcement agency that led Operation Safe Return, which identified and rescued dozens of missing children.

Homeland Security Task Force

A multi-agency task force established under an executive order signed by President Trump to coordinate counterterrorism operations on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Martha Alicia Mendez Aguilar

Also known as 'La Diabla,' she was arrested in Juárez, Mexico in 2025 for allegedly luring pregnant women, performing illegal cesarean procedures, and selling the newborns to buyers in the U.S.

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What they’re saying

“One example of what terrorist cartels will do to diversify their revenue streams and finance operations.”

— Joe Kent, NCTC Director

What’s next

The judge in the case against Martha Alicia Mendez Aguilar will decide on her charges of femicide, human trafficking, and organized crime.

The takeaway

These operations highlight the urgent need to combat the growing crisis of child trafficking from Mexico, as federal agencies work to rescue victims, dismantle exploitation networks, and hold traffickers accountable across the southern border.