Fighting the problem of child exploitation in El Paso

EL PASO, Texas -- Homeland Security Investigation Statistics released a report detailing 5,393 cases of Child Exploitations for the 2021 fiscal year.

Of those cases there were 3,776 criminal arrests. 2,275 Indictments, 1,511 convictions and 1,177 children identified and/or rescued.

This is up from 1,000 children identified and/or rescued in 2020.

"Last year I can say that HSI El Paso the El Paso Police Department and our other State and local Federal partners initiated approximately 10 investigations and rescued I want to say about 8 to 10 victims, this year we've already arrested 6 individuals involved in child pornography," Francisco Burrola Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso said.

"We're only 6 months into our fiscal year and we rescued over 7 victims to date, so I am gonna see those numbers probably double then what we saw last year," Burrola said.

Burrola says, through Operation Predator HSI works to identify individuals who are preying on children.

HSI’s Operation Predator is an international initiative launched in 2003 to protect children from exploitation and predators.

Since 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 sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children.

HSI's Child Exploitation Investigation Unit recommends the following tips through Netsmartz.com on how to prevent child exploitation:

• Discuss internet safety and develop an online safety plan 
• Supervise young children’s use of the internet
• Review games, apps, and social media sites 
• Adjust privacy settings and use parental controls 
• Tell children to avoid sharing personal information, photos, and videos online 
• Teach children about body safety and boundaries
• Be alert to potential signs of abuse
• Encourage children to tell a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult 
• Immediately report suspected online enticement or sexual exploitation of a child by calling 911

Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-843-5678.