Honduran sexual predator arrested by ICE

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A Honduran national, who was convicted of statutory rape, was taken into custody on Wednesday in Memphis, Tenn., by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers.

Selvin Omar Plata, 31, was arrested through ERO's Criminal Alien Program (CAP), which focuses on removing aliens who are incarcerated in local or state jails following convictions that make them a danger to national security or a risk to public safety. Based on his criminal conviction, Plata will be detained and processed for removal from the United States.

On or about Aug. 20, 2009, Plata was arrested for aggravated statutory rape in Memphis. On July 7, 2010, Plata pleaded guilty to statutory rape and was sentenced to one year in prison.

Plata illegally entered the United States near Brownsville, Texas, sometime in 2005. He is currently being held in ICE custody awaiting the outcome of his case.

"ICE will continue using its unique immigration authorities to identify and arrest those who present a threat to our community," said Philip Miller, field office director for ICE's Office of 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.