Child Exploitation - Operation Predator

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) works with both local and international law enforcement agencies in a collaborative effort to combat crimes against children. Fifty-six attaché offices overseas and field offices around the U.S. provide technical support, particularly on child pornography (over the Internet), and work closely with locals to ensure those who are deportable are deported.

Two specific programs that fight these crimes are Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces (ICACs) and Virtual Global Task Force (VGTF). ICE has a presence on more than 60 ICACS around the U.S. and is the U.S. representative on the VGTF.

There are numerous ICACs around the country, providing forensic, investigative, training, technical support, victim services and community education to state and local law enforcement agencies to help them develop an effective response to cyber enticement and child pornography cases.

The VGTF is an international alliance of law enforcement agencies from the U.S., UK, Australia and Canada, working together to make the Internet a safer place; to identify, locate and help children at risk; and to hold those who commit on-line child abuse appropriately accountable. On-line child abuse includes activities such as searching for, sharing and downloading images of children being physically and sexually abused and engaging children in chat rooms with the intention of committing sexual abuse both on and off-line. The VGT delivers innovative crime prevention and crime reduction initiatives to prevent and deter individuals from committing on-line child abuse.

ICE also partners with several Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), including the National center for Missing & Exploited Children, Netsmartz, World Vision and Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, to fight crimes against children.