171 Convicted illegal alien sex offenders in Virginia arrested

WSLS News Staff
Published: February 20, 2008

“Operation Cold Play” helps identify 171 convicted illegal alien sex offenders in Virginia.

Virginia’s Attorney General Bob McDonnell, State Police, and investigators from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) say the investigation is a part of “Operation Predator,” a multi-year effort targeted at sex-offenders across the country.  The 171 people identified in “Operation Cold Play” is only phase one of the ongoing operation, according to McDonnell.

The criminal aliens arrested for crimes in our area include:

• A person from Mexico, arrested for a crime in Blacksburg
• A person from Honduras, arrested for a crime in Clifton Forge

Read the news release from the Attorney General’s office below:

Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell, joined by leaders of U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Virginia State Police, today announced a major law enforcement action to remove 171 convicted criminal alien sex offenders from Virginia. The joint action will serve as a model for other states. ICE called this “Operation Cold Play,” and said it was a component of “Operation Predator,” which is a multi-year effort targeted at sex offenders nationwide. Today’s announcement concludes Phase I of this ongoing operation.

In 2006, Attorney General Bob McDonnell worked with the Virginia General Assembly on numerous improvements to Virginia’s Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry. In addition, the Attorney General assisted in securing 45 new state trooper positions to ensure compliance with Registry regulations and investigative violations. In July of 2007, with the additional investigative resources dedicated to the Sex Offender Registry, the Attorney General requested that the Virginia State Police check the birthplace of each individual on the Virginia Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry, and share this information with ICE. The Virginia State Police compiled the list and turned it over to ICE in July of 2007. The original list consisted of 527 names.

ICE agents ran the list against two different federal databases. The process led to the following findings and action:

• 84 Convicted criminal alien sex offenders on the list had already left the country or been deported
• 135 Convicted criminal alien sex offenders were incarcerated in the Commonwealth of Virginia (state and local facilities) and are now being processed for removal from the U.S. upon completion of their incarceration
• 36 Convicted criminal alien sex offenders have been recently taken into federal custody through a joint action involving ICE and Virginia State Police and have been put into removal proceedings.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Attorney General Bob McDonnell noted, “This is a milestone in our effort to remove criminal illegal aliens from the Commonwealth. Using the data from our improved Sex Offender Registry, and the additional manpower of the troopers assigned to the new State Police Sex Offender Investigative Unit, we were able to get specific information to ICE and remove dangerous criminal alien sex offenders from Virginia. We have the resources in place to make significant progress in removing criminal aliens from our Commonwealth. Public safety demands that we utilize these resources.”

McDonnell continued remarking, “I trust all Virginians agree that there is no place in Virginia for criminal alien sex offenders. We must take every possible step to remove these dangerous criminals from our Commonwealth and nation. Criminal aliens threaten our citizens and our communities, and they undermine the rule of law. I thank the dedicated officers at ICE and the Virginia State Police for their important, and continuing, work on this public safety initiative. Virginia will be safer because of what we have accomplished today.”

“Since the establishment of the Sex Offender Investigative Unit in 2007 and with the assistance of Virginia Probation and Parole, the Virginia State Police have made significant progress in the maintenance and enforcement of Virginia’s Sex Offender Registry,” said Col. W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent. “Working with ICE is one more partnership the state police utilizes to enhance the safety of our communities throughout Virginia.”

“Operation Cold Play is a joint effort between the Commonwealth of Virginia and ICE.  This kind of team work among law enforcement agencies ensures a successful outcome,” said Vincent Archibeque, Acting Field Office Director for ICE Detention and Removal. “Aliens who commit crimes like this in our communities will not get another chance to victimize our citizens. We will continue to work towards our shared goal of removing these predators from our communities.”

ICE will continue its efforts in Phase II of this initiative to include a review of the remaining convicted criminal alien sex offenders on the initial list and a review of any recent additions to the list.