Law enforcement officers apprehending an individual in a hotel hallway, showcasing a tense police operation and the use of physical restraint.

Law enforcement officers apprehending an individual in a hotel hallway, showcasing a tense police operation and the use of physical restraint.

Agents from Homeland Security Investigations just pulled off a major rescue operation right in the middle of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Kansas City.

The operation resulted in the rescue of eight missing children, the identification of nine human trafficking victims, and the arrest of 14 individuals tied to these sick crimes.

According to a report from KMBC 9, HSI agents had been preparing for this moment for over a year, ramping up their presence at venues including the FIFA Fan Festival and other World Cup locations as thousands of people poured into the area.

WATCH:

Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard Sabatini of HSI Kansas City explained that his team worked grueling 12- to 16-hour schedules, seven days a week, to stay ahead of the threats.

“We have people working seven days a week, 12 to 16 hours per day. But we get the mission done,” Sabatini said.

Sabatini noted that the hardest part was the months of planning leading up to the tournament, but once it started, the focus shifted heavily to combating human trafficking networks that often target runaways and missing children who end up on the streets or in the hands of exploiters.

“Unfortunately, most of these children are runaways and reported missing from their families or care providers, but they end up on the streets or with these traffickers,” he added.

Most of the eight recovered kids were teenagers, with several from the Kansas City metro area.

Sabatini emphasized that these operations are ongoing and that the public plays a critical role.

“We find them every day, so the best thing that we can do is have people keep an eye on your kids,” he said, while encouraging anyone at World Cup events to stay vigilant with the classic “If you see something, say something” mantra.

Beyond the child rescues, agents also cracked down hard on counterfeit goods, confiscating more than $435,000 worth of fake jerseys, T-shirts, and flags being sold.

Those items will either be destroyed or donated to countries in need of clothing.

HSI is part of ICE, and Democrats have repeatedly pushed narratives and legislation aimed at slashing funding for immigration enforcement arms of the Department of Homeland Security, including attempts during budget fights to withhold money unless radical reforms were made to limit how agents do their jobs.

The post Homeland Security Agents Rescue Eight Missing Children in Kansas City Human Trafficking Bust During World Cup as Dems Pushed to Defund the Agency (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.