MSM Blackout? 37 Missing Kids Rescued in Multi-State CA Trafficking Bust – Why the Muted Response from Newsom and Bass?

Riverside County, CA – March 13, 2026

In a hard-fought win against human traffickers, law enforcement rescued 37 missing children—many identified as victims of sexual assault, exploitation, and child sex trafficking—during Operation Safe Return. This weeklong effort, running from March 2-6, was spearheaded by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT) in partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and other federal, state, and local agencies. Investigators fanned out across Southern California counties including Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles, extending into northern California, Arizona, and Nevada. Over 50 at-risk teens aged 14-17 were initially flagged as missing, some gone for up to two years, leading to seven arrests amid ongoing probes.

Conservative voice David J. Harris Jr. brought attention to the operation on X, sharing: “🚨37 missing children found during human trafficking operation in Riverside County. 7 suspects were arrested. Why is nobody reporting on this?” His post, featuring a video montage of arrests, underscores a key question: Where’s the wall-to-wall coverage? While local outlets like KTLA, FOX LA, and the LA Times provided some reports, national leftist networks such as CNN and MSNBC have barely whispered about it. Is this because it unfolded in deep-blue California, where progressive policies under the Biden-Harris era allowed an estimated 350,000 unaccompanied minors to disappear at the border, fueling this crisis? Or does exposing real trafficking undermine the left’s dismissal of it as a “right-wing conspiracy”?

Governor Gavin Newsom’s office did issue a press release alongside Attorney General Rob Bonta, touting the rescues—but it felt like a perfunctory nod rather than a call to arms. No major speeches, no urgent policy shifts to address the root causes. And Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass? With recoveries in LA County, her lack of public outrage is telling—perhaps distracted by sanctuary city agendas that critics say protect predators over kids. This tepid reaction smacks of complacency in the face of a child exploitation surge driven by open borders and lax enforcement.

Among the arrests, one standout federal case involved 30-year-old Shannon Devon Hilt from Los Angeles, charged with trafficking two teenage girls across counties and into Las Vegas. The other six suspects’ details remain under wraps as investigations continue, with 13 cases still open.

Under President Trump’s renewed America First push, we need real accountability: tougher border security, zero tolerance for traffickers, and leaders who prioritize kids over politics. If the MSM won’t amplify these heroes’ work, conservatives will. Gavin and Karen, America’s children demand more than silence—step up or step aside. -WAA

References:

1. https://x.com/DavidJHarrisJr/status/2032507402679964083
2. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/03/10/governor-gavin-newsom-attorney-general-bonta-37-missing-children-found-in-riverside-county-operation
3. https://ktla.com/news/inland-empire/dozens-of-missing-kids-some-abused-and-trafficked-rescued-in-southern-california