April 2020 has been proclaimed by the President as National Child Abuse
Prevention Month. The proclamation calls upon individuals to be aware of
children’s safety and well-being, and to support efforts that promote their
psychological, physical, and emotional development. April is also a time to
highlight the importance of working together to prevent the abuse and neglect
of children.
The U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) is committed to protecting children from abuse and educating
them about how to protect themselves. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) created the Angel Watch Center in 2016 to expand its work with foreign
law enforcement partners, alerting them about the intended travel by convicted
registered child sex offenders from the United States to their countries. The
Center ultimately aims to stop the spread of transnational child sexual abuse.
Additionally, ICE Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI)’s Project iGuardian program provides children, teens,
parents, and teachers with information regarding the potential dangers of online
environments and how to stay safe online. The iGuardian program team is
committed to providing safety tips, a number to call, and resources to the
public to avoid falling victim to online sexual predators.
As part of HSI’s Operation
Predator, which was first launched in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 31,000
individuals for crimes against children, including the production and
distribution of online child exploitation material, traveling overseas for the purpose
of sexually abusing minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal year
2019, more than 3,900 child predators were arrested by HSI Special Agents under
this initiative and more than 1,000 victims were identified or rescued.
To report a crime, you can utilize
the HSI online tip form. Report suspected child sexual
exploitation or missing children to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children via its
toll-free 24-hour hotline at 1-800-843-5678.
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