February 20, 2008

ICE, Virginia Attorney General announce arrests of 171 criminal alien sex offenders in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. - U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell and the Virginia State Police today announced a major law enforcement action to remove 171 convicted criminal alien sex offenders from Virginia. ICE called this "Operation Cold Play," and said it was a component of "Operation Predator,” which is a multi-year effort targeted at sex offenders nationwide. Today's announcement concludes Phase I of this ongoing operation.

In 2006, Attorney General Bob McDonnell worked with the Virginia General Assembly on numerous improvements to Virginia's Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry. In July 2007, the Attorney General requested that the Virginia State Police check the birthplace of each individual on the Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry, and share this information with ICE. The Virginia State Police turned the names over to ICE in July 2007.

ICE agents ran the list against two different federal databases. The process led to the following findings and action:

• 84 Convicted criminal alien sex offenders on the list had already left the country or been deported
• 135 Convicted criminal alien sex offenders were incarcerated in the Commonwealth of Virginia (state and local facilities) and are now being processed for removal from the U.S. upon completion of their incarceration
• 36 Convicted criminal alien sex offenders have been recently taken into federal custody through a joint action involving ICE and Virginia State Police and have been put into removal proceedings.

"Operation Cold Play is a joint effort between the Commonwealth of Virginia and ICE. This kind of team work among law enforcement agencies ensures a successful outcome,” said Vincent Archibeque, Acting Field Office Director for ICE Detention and Removal. “Aliens who commit crimes like this in our communities will not get another chance to victimize our citizens. We will continue to work toward our shared goal of removing these predators from our communities."

Attorney General Bob McDonnell noted, “This is a milestone in our effort to remove criminal illegal aliens from the Commonwealth. Using the data from our improved Sex Offender Registry, and the additional manpower of the troopers assigned to the new State Police Sex Offender Investigative Unit, we were able to get specific information to ICE and remove dangerous criminal alien sex offenders from Virginia. We have the resources in place to make significant progress in removing criminal aliens from our Commonwealth. Public safety demands that we utilize these resources."

"Since the establishment of the Sex Offender Investigative Unit in 2007 and with the assistance of Virginia Probation and Parole, the Virginia State Police have made significant progress in the maintenance and enforcement of Virginia's Sex Offender Registry,” said Col. W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “Working with ICE is one more partnership the state police utilizes to enhance the safety of our communities throughout Virginia."

ICE will continue its efforts in Phase II of this initiative.

Nationalities, Localities and Offenses of Recently Detained Criminal Aliens

* Due to Federal Privacy Act Provisions, names cannot be provided

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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