18 PREDATORS NABBED BY ICE

18 PREDATORS NABBED BY ICE IN NASSAU COUNTY
-ICE has arrested more than 6,500 predators nationwide and 465 in the New York metropolitan area under Operation Predator-

BOHEMIA – Martin D. Ficke, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York today announced the arrests of 18 predators and sex offenders in Nassau County (NY). The arrests were made by ICE special agents and officers from the Nassau County Probation Departments. All of the men arrested today had prior convictions in Nassau County for sex offenses. Among the arrested was a citizen of Guyana and a legal permanent resident of the United States, who was twice convicted of rape in the 3rd degree for having raped the same 15-year-old girl on two separate occasions. Also arrested was a citizen of El Salvador who is illegally present in the country and convicted of sexual abuse in the 2nd degree. His victim was a 13-year-old girl. “We have zero tolerance for those that prey on our children. All of the heinous criminals arrested today forfeited their privilege to remain in this country,” said Ficke. “ICE is committed to restoring integrity to our nation’s immigration system by identifying, arresting and removing criminal aliens who terrorize our community. We will continue to work closely with local and state law enforcement agencies to take these criminals off our streets.” Those arrested today represent the following countries: Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru and the Dominican Republic. All of those arrested are at an ICE detention facility in Monmouth County, New Jersey where they will be scheduled for removal hearings before an impartial immigration judge. Since July 2005, 55 predators and sex offenders have been arrested in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Ficke expressed his appreciation to the Nassau County Criminal Justice Coordinator Kevin Lowry for assisting ICE in today’s enforcement action. He also expressed his appreciation to the Nassau and Suffolk law enforcement communities for their continuing cooperation and participation in this ongoing initiative. These actions are the latest under the Department of Homeland Security’s “Operation Predator.” Operation Predator protects children by investigating and presenting for prosecution pedophiles, Internet predators, human traffickers, international sex tourists and other predatory criminals. Since Operation Predator was launched on July 9, 2003, ICE agents have arrested over 6,500 child predators and sex offenders nationwide and removed more than 3,100 criminal alien predators. With today’s operation, the New York ICE Office has arrested over 465 predators. ICE has a toll-free number for the public to provide leads to its enforcement team on any violations, including tips about child pornography, child sex offenders and others preying on children. The toll-free number (1-866-DHS-2ICE) is monitored 24 hours a day by officers at the ICE Law Enforcement Support Center. For more information on Operation Predator, please visit the ICE website at www.ice.gov.

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