South Texas law enforcement partners launch task force to combat sexual predators who target children
HSI SAC San Antonio, Shane Folden, launches the Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force during press event
BROWNSVILLE, Texas — To further protect children from sexual predators, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has partnered with other South Texas agencies to form the Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Investigations Task Force (RGV CEITF).
Through the RGV CEITF, local and federal law enforcement agencies are pooling their resources to jointly investigate all crimes committed against children in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. Task Force members are encouraged to share their expertise, evidence, ideas and investigative and forensic tools to help rescue child victims and pursue prosecution against their victimizers. As such, the RGV CEITF allows law enforcement to speak with a unified voice to protect the children of the Rio Grande Valley.
HSI leads the RGV CEITF, which is also comprised of the following South Texas agencies: U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas; Brownsville Police Department; Harlingen Police Department; Cameron County Sheriff's Office; Brownsville Independent School District Police Department; and Cameron County District Attorney's Office.
Each year, millions of children fall prey to sexual predators. These young victims are left with permanent psychological and emotional scars. It is one of HSI's most important missions to investigate and target those who possess, transport and produce child pornography, as well as those who engage in child sex tourism, and those who entice minors for sex. Based on the number of complaints received by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline, Internet crimes against children are rising at alarming levels.
"HSI is pleased to lead this important initiative which allows multiple South Texas agencies to coordinate our resources to target the increasing numbers of online predators," said Shane M. Folden, special agent in charge of HSI San Antonio. "Together, tis new RGV joint partnership will help rescue and protect our children, which are the most important and the most vulnerable members of our society."
"It is absolutely essential that members of law enforcement, social service agencies and other stakeholders work together and leverage existing resources to prevent the exploitation of children," said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. "The U.S. Attorney's Office is proud to be a part of this initiative to protect our children."
“Whether we prosecute the cases in state or federal court, the priority here is to prosecute those who seek to harm and exploit children. We look forward to this task force allowing us to combine our resources to ensure justice is obtained for children of abuse in our community,” said Cameron County District Attorney, Luis Saenz.
“The Brownsville Police Department is committed to protecting the children within this community and will make every effort to prosecute identified child predators and sexual offenders. With an increase in this type of criminal activity, we must become more vigilant and use our resources more effectively to combat crimes against children and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law," said Brownsville Police Department Commander Juan A. Hernandez.
“Educating families as to the dangers that exist online continues to be of paramount importance. This task force will exemplify how the collaborative efforts of law enforcement can positively impact the future of online safety and prevention of sexual predation of our children,” said Brownsville I.S.D. Police Chief, Oscar Garcia.
“The Cameron County Sheriff's Office is committed to assisting the task force in bringing to justice those that would bring harm to the most vulnerable members of our society, our children,” said Omar Lucio, Cameron County Sheriff.
This new task force was established under HSI's Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 14,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year 2015, nearly 2,400 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI's Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
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