Feds Arrest 22 Alien Sex Offenders in New York City Operation

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the New York City Department of Probation announced the arrests of 22 child predators and criminal alien sex offenders in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. Wednesday's initiative is a part of the ongoing Operation Predator initiative and a national priority for ICE, according to officials.

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All of those arrested were on probation in New York City for prior felony or misdemeanor convictions for sex crimes including rape, sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, endangering the welfare of a child, sodomy and promoting prostitution. The youngest victim was a six-year-old girl and one of the victims was a 15-year-old boy.

Those arrested include:

A citizen of Italy was arrested by the New York City Police Department and charged with sexual misconduct, criminal sexual act, sex abuse & endangering the welfare of a child. He was convicted of criminal sexual act and sentenced to six months imprisonment and 10 years probation. The victim was a fifteen-year- old boy. 

A citizen of Trinidad and Tobago was arrested by the New York City Police Department and charged with rape, sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of a minor. He was convicted of rape. He was sentenced to 10 years probation. The victim was his 13-year-old female neighbor. 

A citizen of Ecuador was arrested by the New York City Police Department and charged with rape, criminal sex act & endangering the welfare of a child. He was convicted of rape and sentenced to 10 years probation. The victim was a twelve- year-old-girl. 

"ICE is committed to insuring the public safety of our communities and we will not tolerate the actions of sexual predators and those who threaten the welfare of our children," said New York ICE Acting Special Agent in Charge Salvatore Dalessandro. 

"If you are preying on our children, we are going to find you; and if you are not a US citizen, we will deport you. We will continue to partner with New York City Probation and other law enforcement agencies to this end," he warned.

NYC Probation Commissioner Martin F. Horn said, "In our view, the sex offenders turned over to ICE today do not deserve to remain in this country. The taxpayers should not be asked to pay for the supervision of people who come here from other countries and commit appalling crimes. When they are deported, New York City will be a safer place for everyone. We welcome the opportunity to work once again with ICE in this important endeavor."

These latest arrests included citizens of the following countries: Burma, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Mexico, Poland and Trinidad. Non-citizen sex offenders are subject to administrative removal from the US by ICE. 

Eleven of the aliens were in the country illegally and 11 were legal permanent residents. ICE agents transported the aliens to an ICE detention facility where they will be detained and placed into removal proceedings. All will have the opportunity to have their cases heard before an Immigration Judge.

ICE's 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 in July, 2003, ICE agents have arrested more than 10,000 child predators and sex offenders nationwide. Since July, 2003, there have been more than 700 child predator and sex offender arrests in the New York metropolitan area.