El Paso Standard

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alongside international law enforcement agencies, has concluded Operation Renewed Hope III. This operation, led by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), took place from February 24 to March 7 and focused on identifying victims of online child sexual exploitation.

The operation successfully identified 36 victims and generated over 380 investigative leads concerning additional victims. Sean Fitzgerald, Assistant Director of ICE HSI Cyber and Operational Technology, stated, "Every day, the dedicated professionals at ICE HSI work relentlessly to safeguard children from online exploitation. Their unwavering commitment creates a lasting impact on the lives of victims of these heinous crimes."

During the operation, ICE HSI and its partners examined 83,000 files totaling 216 GB of data. The analysis involved hundreds of previously seized unidentified images and videos related to child sex abuse material to identify both children and offenders as well as the locations where abuses occurred. Mike Prado, Deputy Assistant Director at DHS Cyber Crimes Center, emphasized the global nature of this crisis: "The exploitation of children is a profound global crisis that requires a unified, all-encompassing response."

Operation Renewed Hope III utilized sophisticated investigative techniques to generate 251 foreign and 135 domestic leads that included probable identities and locations of children affected by these crimes. These leads were compared against Interpol’s International Child Sexual Exploitation Database before being shared with HSI field offices in 47 partnering countries.

Domestic partners in this operation included organizations such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children in partnership with Tim Tebow Foundation; Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section; Thomson Reuters Special Services; FBI; Northern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

International collaboration involved victim identification specialists from numerous countries including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada among others. Various police forces participated including An Garda Siochana from Ireland; Australian Federal Police; Brazil Federal Police; Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) Germany among others.

Mike Prado concluded by highlighting the success achieved through collaboration: “This operation marks our most successful of its kind and underscores the power of collaboration and our relentless pursuit of those responsible.”

In fiscal year 2024 alone ICE HSI identified/rescued 1,783 child victims during investigations into child exploitation while supporting nearly seven thousand new investigations leading up-to almost five thousand arrests related directly or indirectly towards sexual exploitation involving minors.

Individuals suspecting abduction or imminent danger should dial emergency services immediately whereas suspected cases can be reported via various helplines provided including ICE tip line at 866-347-2423 or Know2Protect Tipline at1-833-591-KNOW(5669).

For more information regarding efforts combating such issues follow @ICEgov & @HSI_HQ across social media platforms like X formerly known as Twitter where updates about ongoing missions combating similar exploitative activities are regularly posted alongside educational resources available through Know2Protect campaign aimed towards empowering families against online threats affecting young individuals today!