By Brannon Howse
On a recent broadcast of my show, I had the privilege of welcoming back Tara Rodas, a courageous HHS whistleblower who has become a leading voice in the fight to protect vulnerable children. Tara’s viral congressional testimony and relentless advocacy have shone a spotlight on the horrifying reality of child trafficking in the United States, particularly under the failed policies of the Biden administration. Today, we discussed a monumental breakthrough: the rescue of 60 migrant children in Florida, marking the largest child rescue operation in U.S. history. But as Tara revealed, this is just the beginning.
The headline that caught my attention was staggering: “60 missing kids found in Florida during largest rescue in U.S. history.” Operation Dragon Eye, a two-week mission involving over 20 agencies and 100 personnel, saved children aged 9 to 17 from the Tampa Bay area. These children, many victims of human trafficking, were found in dire circumstances. Eight adults were arrested on charges including human trafficking, child endangerment, drug possession, and drug trafficking. The stories are heartbreaking. Natasha Nascimento of Refining Refuge, one of the organizations involved, shared a powerful account of a pregnant young girl who heard her baby’s heartbeat for the first time during an ultrasound. That moment awakened something in her, shifting her from mere survival to a fierce determination to fight for her child’s life. As Nascimento said, this operation didn’t just recover children—it recovered generations.
Tara, who has been at the forefront of exposing the systemic failures that allowed this crisis to fester, emphasized that this rescue is not even the largest case being worked on. “Stand by. There’s more coming,” she said. The Trump administration’s new policies, staff, and mission focus have driven these incredible results. Unlike the Biden administration, which prioritized speed over safety, the current administration is implementing common-sense measures: DNA testing to verify familial relationships, official ID requirements, fingerprinting of all adults in a household, and income verification to ensure sponsors can provide a safe home. They’ve also ended placements in shelters with reports of abuse and are addressing a backlog of over 65,000 unanswered calls to a child helpline—a shameful oversight from the previous administration.
Tara’s testimony painted a grim picture of the Biden era. “Speed over security,” as Secretary RFK Jr. described it, led to children being handed off to anyone without background checks or even proper identification. RFK Jr. shared shocking examples: one individual picked up 42 children using different names and addresses, including a strip club, a parking lot, and an empty lot filled with shipping containers. Tara confirmed these horrors, recalling how she witnessed children being sent to addresses already flagged for suspected trafficking. When she raised concerns, her boss chillingly responded, “We don’t get sued by traffickers,” prioritizing rapid placement over safety. Whistleblowers like Tara faced retaliation, with some, including herself, being walked off their jobs for speaking out.
The financial incentives behind this crisis are equally disturbing. Tara explained that contractors like Endeavors and Cherokee Federal reaped massive profits—$100 million a month from the federal government—while traffickers treated children as commodities, selling them repeatedly in a perverse “subscription model.” Unlike drugs or guns, which are sold once, children can be exploited over and over, making child trafficking more lucrative than the drug trade. The life expectancy of a trafficked child? A heartbreaking two to seven years, with survivors often requiring yearly surgeries due to the trauma they’ve endured.
Perhaps the most staggering revelation is the scale of the crisis. RFK Jr. noted that 291,000 unaccompanied minors disappeared during the Biden administration, but Tara and other experts, like DHS whistleblower Aaron Stevenson, believe the true number could exceed a million when accounting for children in fake family units and those missing from foster care or CPS. When I asked Tara what percentage of these children might still be alive, she hesitated, sharing that law enforcement has warned her to prepare for the worst. Yet, she remains focused on the hope of finding those who can still be saved, like the girl who found renewed purpose upon hearing her baby’s heartbeat.
The fate of these children’s offspring is even more horrific. Tara revealed that some newborns are discarded in the trash or used in occultic rituals, a reality she once would have dismissed as conspiracy but now knows to be true from survivors’ accounts. Investigative journalist Laura Logan has documented the trafficking of infants, and a recent Florida bust uncovered pornography involving infants and toddlers, leaving even seasoned sheriffs in tears.
As a father and grandfather, I urged Tara to share advice for parents and grandparents. Her response was clear: vigilance is critical. Through her work with AmericasFuture.net’s “Get in the Fight” campaign, Tara educates families on recognizing grooming signs—expensive gifts, secretive behavior, or changes in a child’s routine. She stressed the dangers of technology, noting that a child with a smartphone is vulnerable to predators who can infiltrate their chats. Tara shared a personal story about her niece, who was contacted by a 42-year-old man on social media as she prepares to enter middle school. Parents must educate themselves and monitor their children’s digital interactions closely.
Tara’s message to predators is resolute: “If you are a predator, trafficker going after these kids, you better get running because we’re coming.” To children in danger, she offers hope: “Please hold on. We’re coming.” Her work, alongside the Trump administration’s renewed commitment, is a beacon of light in this darkness. I encourage everyone to follow Tara on X at (@TaraLeeRodas) for updates on her critical efforts.
As the Bible instructs, we must expose the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). This interview was tough to hear, and I know some may turn away because the truth is too painful. But we cannot ignore the evil preying on our children. Tara Rodas is doing God’s work, and I’m grateful for her courage. Stay vigilant, support this mission, and pray for the children still out there, waiting to be found.
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