By Dennis Powell, e-Management
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are known for immigration related initiatives. But many are surprised to learn about the agency’s work protecting citizens from cyber crimes, human trafficking, and child exploitation. (Photo Credit: Philip A. Dwyer/AP)
Let’s go back to 2003. It was around this time the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) evolved out of the investigative and federal enforcement functions of the former U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Conversations around immigration and law enforcement in this country can become passionate quite quickly. But, there’s more to ICE than public opinion on how to deal with issues surrounding immigration. When many think of ICE’s mission, they typically assume the agency is about the removal of undocumented persons or the enforcement of immigration laws. But a lot of folks are surprised to learn about its investigative programs such as the Cyber Crimes Center (C3).
Did you know about ICE’s role in ending online exploitation?
The C3 Child Exploitation Section (CES) is responsible for busting production and distribution of explicit images of children and persons who travel in the U.S. for the expressed purposes to abuse, assault, or exploit children. C3 CES uses the latest Internet technology to investigate and catch adults who try to sexually exploit minors. Only a few weeks ago a man was arrested in California thanks to the work of agents for ICE. The man later admitted to Internet-media crimes involving children.
Did you know about ICE’s role in catching predators?
Similar to its CES program, ICE runs Operation Predator, which as the name suggests, is focused on investigations into people who prey on minors. The scope of Operation Predator is wider than CES’ online mission. ICE works with the Department of Justice, the U.S. Secret Service, and even the U.S. Postal Service to carry out its goals. There’s even an Operation Predator App available on iTunes. The app allows users to report suspicions of unlawful behavior directly to ICE. Last month, the app was credited in helping law enforcement in Louisiana arrest a man believed to be a predator and producer of illegal media involving children.
Did you know about ICE’s charge to investigate a variety of online crime?
If you have ever been a victim of online fraud, you may be happy to learn ICE has a program that focuses on perpetrators using the Internet to break immigration and other jurisdictional laws. The Cyber Crimes Section (CSS) program is responsible for tracking online money laundering, sales of illegal drugs, and even identity theft. CSS is responsible for shutting down pirate websites that exploit corporate intellectual property including media files for copyrighted music and videos. According to IT Law Wiki, CCS initiatives also protect Americans by putting organizations who sell counterfeit pharmaceuticals and other merchandise out of business!
Criminals Are Walking On Thin I.C.E.
With so much focus in the news on local enforcements’ issues with undocumented people living in the USA, it may be easy for ICE’s work fighting against human trafficking, protecting children from predators, and getting in front of cyber crimes to be overlooked by news agencies and the general public. So, (1) what’s your take on immigration and customs issues affecting the USA? (2) Did you know about ICE’s role in fighting Internet crime and child exploitation? (3) What other things would you like to see ICE focus on in the coming year?