Convicted child predator from Mexico arrested by ICE for deportation

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A Mexican national previously convicted of criminal attempt to commit aggravated sexual battery was arrested Thursday by officers assigned to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Enrique Andrade, 31, was arrested by ICE through the Criminal Alien Program (CAP), which screens and identifies criminal aliens for removal from the United States based on their criminal convictions.

On or about Aug. 26, 2008, Andrade was arrested for raping a child in Memphis, Tenn. The victim was a juvenile. On Sept. 18, 2008, Andrade pleaded guilty in a Shelby County, Tenn., Criminal/Circuit Court to the lesser offense of criminal attempt to commit aggravated sexual battery and sentenced to a term of five years in state prison.

Andrade illegally entered the United States near Brownsville, Texas, sometime in 1997.

He is currently being held in ICE custody and is being processed for removal to his home country.

"ICE will continue using its unique immigration authorities to identify and arrest those who present a threat to our community," said Philip Miller, ICE field office director for ERO in New Orleans. "Criminals in Tennessee should be on notice, because we will find you and bring you to justice."

This CAP arrest was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to protect children from sexual predators, including those who travel overseas for sex with minors, Internet child pornographers, criminal alien sex offenders and child sex traffickers. Since Operation Predator was launched in July 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 12,000 individuals.

ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE. This hotline is staffed around the clock by investigators.

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, at 1-800-843-5678 or http://www.cybertipline.com.