Child predator arrests, cyber safety highlight most viewed articles of 2014
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) promotes homeland security and public safety through the criminal and civil enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade and immigration.
As the agency’s public face, the ICE Office of Public Affairs (OPA) uses ICE.gov as a central tool for the distribution of ICE news and information to communicate the agency’s mission to the general public. Millions of people visit ICE.gov every year.
Through feature stories, news releases, photos and videos OPA keeps the public informed about the achievements and positive impact the men and women of ICE have every day on the safety and security of this nation. From major arrests to agency news, here’s a look back at the most viewed stories from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations and Management and Administration.
Top Overall ICE.gov story
ICE seeks the public’s help to identify 'John Doe' child predator
The most viewed story of 2014 was a March 18 news release seeking the public’s help to identify a suspected child pornography producer, and rescue at least one child victim.
The "John Doe" in this news release was identified, located and arrested within 30 hours of the announcement.
Top Five Homeland Security Investigations Stories
ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is the primary investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security combating criminal organizations that illegally exploits America’s travel, trade, financial and immigration systems. HSI provided many newsworthy moments throughout 2014 that were documented on ICE.gov. The top five are listed below.
ICE seeks public's help to identify 'John Doe' conspirator in one of the largest-ever child pornography investigations
In a June 9 story, HSI sought the public's help to identify a suspected child pornography distributer who helped facilitate one of the largest underground networks ever encountered by law enforcement.
ICE launches national cyber safety campaign to help protect kids from online sexual predators
On March 25, ICE announced the launch of Project iGuardian, a first-of-its-kind national cyber safety campaign spearheaded by HSI in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).
HSI New York announces arrest of 71 individuals for sexual exploitation crimes against children in 'Operation Caireen'
On May 21, HSI announced the arrest of 71 individuals for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children in Operation Caireen, the largest-ever enforcement operation in New York targeting predators who possess, produce or distribute sexually explicit images of children.
HSI arrests 638 gang members during month-long operation
On May 1, more than 600 gang members and associates from 145 different gangs were arrested in 179 cities across the U.S. during Project Southbound, a month-long operation executed by HSI which targeted gangs affiliated with the Sureños.
HSI, Dallas PD serve search warrants at 10 Dallas massage parlors
On March 7, Law enforcement teams assigned to the North Texas Trafficking Task Force (NTTTF) executed state search warrants arresting 21 foreign-national women at 10 Dallas massage parlors suspected of operating as fronts for the illegal sex industry and harboring illegal aliens.
Top Five ERO Stories
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) identifies, arrests and removes aliens who present a danger to national security. In 2014, ERO made several arrests that support ICE’s mission. Those efforts were highlighted on ICE.gov. The five most viewed ERO-related stories of the year are below.
ICE Texas field offices remove more than 800 sex offenders so far this year
The four Texas field offices within ICE’s ERO have deported more than 860 sex offenders so far this fiscal year.
Of the 862 alien sex offenders deported by the Texas-based offices, about 27 percent were convicted of sex offenses against children.
ICE arrests 62 criminal aliens and immigration violators during 3-day central and south Texas enforcement operation
ICE ERO officers arrested 62 criminal aliens, fugitives and other immigration violators in central and south Texas during a three-day multi-city enforcement operation.
Utah woman deported to El Salvador to face charges of killing Michigan man
On August 20, an Ogden, Utah woman wanted by Salvadoran authorities for allegedly orchestrating the February 2013 murder of her husband was deported to El Salvador by ICE ERO.
ICE repatriates 2 Mexican murder suspects captured in Los Angeles area
A July 22 article highlighted two Mexican nationals captured in Los Angeles, who were wanted on murder charges in their native country, were turned over to Mexican law enforcement personnel at a San Diego-area border crossing by officers from ICE ERO.
ICE 'most wanted fugitive' captured in Florida
ERO officers arrested one of its most wanted fugitives on July 23 during a joint operation by ERO Miami and the Hallandale Beach Police Department.
Top M&A Stories
ICE’s Management and Administration (M&A) oversees ICE's budget, expenditures, accounting and finance, procurement, human resources and personnel, workforce recruitment, equal employment opportunity, information technology systems, facilities, property and equipment needs. Below are the top two M&A articles of 2014.
ICE Career Development Program maximizing technology for employee training
When the ICE Office of Training and Development (OTD) felt the brunt of the severe budget reductions in 2012, it was forced to look for ways to reach larger audiences in a more efficient manner.
It was decided that the best way for the ICE Career Development Program (CDP) to expand its efforts and create programs that employees could achieve all of the above and that were easily accessible was to take advantage of the ever-changing technology landscape to support performance-based opportunities through webinars, workshops and an enhanced website where ICE employees could take charge of their own careers. It is because of those efforts that the team was honored at the 2014 Director’s Awards with the ICE Core Value Award
Off-duty ICE deputy field office director saves family from car wreck
Shards of glass still lodged in his hands and a throbbing pain in his shoulder, Chris Cronen sat in a hospital emergency room the evening of March 9 a hero.
Cronen, the executive deputy assistant director for the Office of Firearms & Tactical Programs with ICE, is temporarily assigned as the acting deputy field office director for New England. His new post brought him to a suburb of Boston earlier this year after a 5-year tour at ICE headquarters in Washington, D.C.
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