Operation Cross Country 2022
Operation Cross Country 2022 is a joint FBI operation with local agencies to help identify and rescue child human trafficking victims.
Video Transcript
Megan VSD
I would say that Operation Cross Country—it's just a national push throughout the FBI to put resources and time and energy and to build partnerships around addressing trafficking and exploitation, particularly of children. I mean, first and foremost, we're most focused on the victims in these cases. It's important that we prosecute and investigate, but making sure that they are receiving the services that they need and that they're getting the help that they need just to better their future. I think to build trust with victims of exploitation, you have to first and foremost, just be honest with them. We are here as a law enforcement agency to investigate a crime, but we understand they may not see themselves as victims.
Amanda Gulli
Obviously, we want to get the information and we want to get the evidence that we need for prosecution and then for the investigation. But our teams are always so focused on making sure that the victim is safe, the victim is taken care of, and that those victims are receiving the services that they need and then continuing the investigation.
Megan VSD
Partnerships are critical to the work that I do as a victim specialist. I can't do a whole lot by myself. It really is a team effort. It takes a village to help victims get on a better track.
Oliver Fladrich
So for us, the FBI is helping us with investigative resources and also with resources to help these individuals. So it's a great force multiplier for us. We do a lot of the legwork, obviously. Our investigators do the actual field work. We do the takedowns, you know, we secure the scene, all that kind of stuff. But the real work that happens in those interview rooms, this is really where you get down to the nitty gritty and you can identify two victims.
Samuel
We work in close daily contact with a victim specialist, and we also have certified forensic interviewers. We have a good partnership with our Children's Advocacy Center.
Megan VSD
The idea of these interviews is that we only do it once. We don't want to reinterview a child, both because we don't want to re-traumatize them. And it just shows the child that they have a team, that they have agents and their own interviewer or they have a victim specialist all showing up at once for them to support them, get them through that experience, and then then my job afterwards to continue with that support.
Video Download
Video Source
Recent Video
- 12.01.2023 — Inside the FBI: Charity Scams
- 12.01.2023 — FBI Omaha Hate Crime Awareness Campaign
- 11.20.2023 — FBI Charlotte: Bus Video in Madalina Cojocari Missing Person Investigation
- 11.20.2023 — Inside the FBI: The Importance of Partner Engagement
- 11.06.2023 — Chicago Warns About Charity Fraud
- 11.03.2023 — Charlotte Field Office at Beacon Project
- 10.26.2023 — FBI New Orleans hosts Federal Law Enforcement Youth Academy
- 10.26.2023 — Inside the FBI Podcast: The Emerging Technology and Securing Innovation Security Summit
- 10.20.2023 — FBI Oklahoma City on Panel Discussing Osage Murders Case
- 10.19.2023 — Inside the FBI Podcast: The Osage Murders
- 10.17.2023 — Director Wray Discusses the Threat of Chinese Economic Espionage at Five Eyes Press Conference
- 10.17.2023 — Director Wray Discusses Potential Misuses of AI During the FBI's Emerging Technology and Securing Innovation Security Summit
- 10.17.2023 — Director Wray Characterizes the Threat China Poses to Innovation During the FBI's Emerging Technology and Securing Innovation Security Summit
- 10.14.2023 — The FBI Continues to Build Partnerships at IACP
- 09.29.2023 — FBI Phoenix Hosts New Agent Training Program for Indian Country
- 09.29.2023 — Operation Not Forgotten
- 09.28.2023 — Interview with Cindy Valle's Brother
- 09.28.2023 — Interview with Cindy Valle's Mother
- 09.15.2023 — Inside the FBI Podcast: The FBI's Safe Online Surfing Internet Challenge
- 09.09.2023 — Nationals Video 2023
FBI Weekly Newsletter
Subscribe to our email newsletter for news on the FBI, sent out every week.