Ashley Moody urges Joe Biden to reinstate ICE operation targeting sex offenders

AG Ashley Moody
Moody is joined by 17 other state attorneys general.

Attorney General Ashley Moody urged President Joe Biden on Thursday to reconsider the cancellation of a law enforcement operation that targeted convicted sex offenders who reside within the country illegally.

In a letter signed by 17 state attorneys general, the coalition stressed that canceling Operation Talon may “embolden” sexual predators seeking entry into the United States and may aggravate sexual assault issues within immigrant communities.

The letter was also addressed to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and ICE Acting Director Tae Johnson.

“The reversal of a federal enforcement operation created to prevent the molestation, rape and sex trafficking of women, men and children is extremely concerning to me,” Moody said. “As Attorney General, not a day goes by where I am not focused on how to end sex trafficking, especially the rape and torture of children—which, as a mother, disgusts me. It should also disgust President Biden, and that is why I am calling on his administration to immediately reinstate Operation Talon, to protect vulnerable populations from sexual abuse and help us end the disturbing epidemic of human trafficking in this country.”

According to the letter, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested more than 19,700 illegal aliens with sexual criminal offenses, underscoring the operation’s importance.

The letter further noted that human trafficking and sexual assault are “endemic issues” within migrant communities and at the border.

“The overwhelming majority of victims of sex and/or labor trafficking in the United States were foreign nationals, not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents,” the letter says, citing Polaris Project Data. “For cases in which citizenship status was known, 77.5% of trafficking victims (4,601 out of 5,939) were not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.”

In a press release, Moody described Biden’s decision as a “last-minute” cancelation.”

FOX News, meanwhile, reported that the Biden Administration had no hand in the program’s cancellation.

A copy of the letter is attached below.

Jason Delgado

Jason Delgado covers news out of the Florida State Capitol. After a go with the U.S. Army, the Orlando-native attended the University of Central Florida and earned a degree in American Policy and National Security. His past bylines include WMFE-NPR and POLITICO Florida. He'd love to hear from you. You can reach Jason by email ([email protected]) or on Twitter at @byJasonDelgado.


8 comments

  • Sonja Fitch

    February 19, 2021 at 5:42 am

    Another GOPQ loser! The need is obvious. But the Moody GOPQ loser committed and contributed to the January 6 Insurrection. Just another broke clock loser! Vote Democrat up and down ballot for the elections in 2022!

    • Tracie

      February 27, 2021 at 8:21 pm

      Grow up and quit being divisive. I’m an Independent and they all need to lose their jobs. Vote American. Definitely not Democrat

  • Charlotte Greenbarg

    February 19, 2021 at 8:10 am

    Fitch is a bot!🤪😜🤡

  • Claude Kirk

    February 19, 2021 at 10:24 am

    I like Ashley Moody.
    But is it logical for us to assume the current occupant of the WhiteHouse who’s party line supports the wholesale slaughter of female babies thru abortion could give a rat’s @ss in regards to ending sex trafficking of women and the rape and torture of childern?

  • tjb

    February 19, 2021 at 11:03 am

    Moody is creating a false narrative

    What is left out of this article is a description of what Operation Talon is being replaced with. There were numerous flaws with the implementation of Operation Talon that the Biden’s administration corrected.

    There is still an extremely strong emphasis on preventing human trafficking and sexual assault as with Operation Talon.

  • Sonja Fitch

    February 19, 2021 at 3:02 pm

    Hush hush sweet Charlotte! Vote Democrat up and down ballot for the elections in 2022!

  • Palmer Tom

    February 19, 2021 at 7:44 pm

    @ClaudeKirk (too chicken-hearted to use your real name) thanks for pairing the barefoot and pregnant dictum of the so-called pro-life forces with sex trafficking. To claim Biden or any other leader is soft on sex-trafficking is slanderous.

  • Beth

    February 22, 2021 at 7:54 am

    Moody is a joke. So concerned about sex trafficking but fully supports the former creep who bragged about being a sexual predator. Includes helping him spread the big lie that led to a murderous coup attempt. Does that ding bat honestly think anyone takes her seriously? She should have resigned months ago.

Comments are closed.


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