34 Missing Children and Teens Recovered in New York Operation, Officials Say

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks as she meets with gateway project construction workers at the site of the Gateway Project in New York City on Feb. 17, 2026. Adam Gray/Reuters

Thirty-four children and teens who had been reported missing were recovered during a three-day operation in New York involving multiple state agencies, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Oct. 2.

The children and teens were between seven and 18 years old when they were reported missing in the Long Island area, according to the governor’s office. They were rescued through the Long Island Missing Child Rescue Operation, which involved more than 100 professionals from nearly 40 agencies and organizations.

“Every missing child deserves our full attention, and every family deserves answers,” Hochul said in a statement. “This operation brought together the expertise and resources needed to find vulnerable young people and help protect them from exploitation and harm.”

Law enforcement worked with social workers, advocates, and community organizations to determine the circumstances surrounding the children’s disappearance and assess their needs after they were recovered, according to the statement. The operation concluded on Oct. 1.

FBI Director Kash Patel praised the recoveries in a social media post, saying they reflect law enforcement’s efforts to locate missing children.

“That’s what happens when law enforcement shares intelligence, follows every lead, and refuses to quit. These aren’t case numbers. They’re kids. They’re families,” Patel said in a post on X.

Clearview AI, a facial-recognition software developer, said in a separate statement on Oct. 2 that its technology helped investigators generate leads during the operation, which were then verified by trained personnel.

Among those recovered was a youth who had been reported missing for two years, according to the statement. The company said the unnamed youth was given time to rest, a hot meal, and support for her immediate needs after being rescued.

“Her family, who had not seen her since she disappeared, expressed their gratitude to the team and prepared to reunite with her,” the company said.

“After years missing, the recovery represented far more than closing a case—it created an opportunity for the child to be seen, supported, and given a safer path forward.”

This was the fourth such operation in New York, following previous operations in Erie County, the Capital Region, and Westchester County that resulted in the recovery of 168 missing children and teens, according to the governor’s office.

Hochul’s office said that a total of 10,629 children under the age of 18 were reported missing across New York last year, with 94 percent being reported as runaways.

“During that year, police closed 10,672 cases involving children reported missing in 2025 or earlier years. At the end of 2025, there were 1,079 active missing children cases statewide,” it said.

The governor’s office said that investigative agencies would continue to pursue additional disappearance cases.