DHS Watch : Operation Predator
Posted Jul 25, 2003

On July 9, 2003, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a press release regarding the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE's) new program to "protect children world-wide." ICE will identify child predators and put them in removal proceedings, if they are subject to removal. ICE will also seek to assist victims of child pornography and request their aid in prosecuting those who create and promulgate pornographic material victimizing children.

Other Partners in Operation Predator

In addition to ICE, other organizations which will help to protect children under Operation Predator include the Cyber Smuggling Center, which will spearhead the operation; the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection; the U.S. Secret Service; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the FBI; state and local law enforcement agencies; and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. ICE will also work closely with foreign law enforcement partners and will seek information from foreign governments regarding anyone who has a history of sexual offenses and is seeking entry to the U.S. In exchange, ICE will notify foreign governments whenever a person with a sexual offense conviction will be deported to their nations.

National Child Victim Identification System

The partners above will create a National Child Victim Identification System. This system's goal is to provide all known child pornography images to various state and federal agencies for prosecutorial purposes. ICE will also develop a single website that will make available, in one location, all of the states' sex offender registries. ICE will regularly check the National Criminal Information Center registry of sex offenders for criminals of interest under Operation Predator. ICE will also have a toll-free (800) number for those who wish to report child sex offenders and any others who exploit children.

Priority Given to Child Sex Crimes

ICE's Investigations Division is giving child sex crimes investigations the same level of priority as human smuggling cases. A primary goal will be to track down those who have been charged with sexual offenses but remain at large. The ICE Detention and Removal Division is prioritizing removal cases involving convicted sex offenders. Additionally, ICE's Institutional Removal Program is seeking to target foreign national convicted sex offenders who remain in detention for removal after their release from prison.

Conclusion

Harm to children must not be taken lightly and the government is making attempts to protect these defenseless victims. We are aware, however, that in domestic disputes foreign nationals are sometimes falsely accused of abuse. Those who find themselves in situations such as this must not ignore its seriousness of these allegations and should seek both criminal and immigration counsel immediately to avoid many problems, including being listed on ICE's "most wanted fugitive list," or ensuring their prompt removal from the list when charges against them are dropped or their cases are dismissed.