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New ICE app tracks sexual predators and alerts public
ICE's new smartphone app tracks sexual predators and sends out public alerts in urgent situations. It's free and downloadable from Apple's app store.
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Courtesy ICE
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The alert section lists people who are wanted for child exploitation crimes.
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Courtesy ICE
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The app's news section lets you view updates on criminal cases the agency is following.
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Courtesy ICE
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement has launched a smartphone app to track sexual predators.
The app is part of a federal effort called "Operation Predator." It aims to protect children from sexual predators, including child traffickers and those who travel overseas for sex with minors.
The app has three main features:
- A tip section where you can report suspected sexual predators anonymously through the app, by phone or online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- A news section where you can check out other criminal cases the agency has worked on.
- An alert section that lists people who are wanted for child exploitation crimes, which includes photos.
"And what's good about that alert section is that every time a new person is wanted, it's going to go on there and is going to remain there until the person is caught," explained Claude Arnold, Special Agent in charge for ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Los Angeles.
The alert section already includes information about a "John Doe" case in Los Angeles.
"His images were discovered during the execution of a search warrant here in the Los Angeles area, but we don’t know where he resides. So we’re looking for any information on that guy," said Arnold.
In the photo, both the man and the child are seen in a room with wood paneled walls with framed photos, a black computer, a desk with a sewing machine, and brown patterned curtains.
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The new app is not connected to the Megan’s Law sex offender online data base, which allows you to see if a registered sex offender lives in your neighborhood. But Arnold said the agency will take a look into that.
The app is free, but is only available for iPhones. ICE is working on making versions for other smartphones.
View the current Los Angeles abuse case below:
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