Operation Angel Watch is an intelligence-driven program targeting American registered sex offenders traveling abroad who the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement department (ICE) believes are likely to engage in child sex tourism.
By evaluating patterns and trends, ICE identifies high risk countries to compare with the travel plans of persons included in sex offender registry.
A 2010 Government Accountability Office report had found that at least 4,500 U.S. passports were issued to registered sex offenders in fiscal year 2008.
"[4] In 2007, Howard Cotterman's computer was subjected to a forensic evaluation after his name came up as flagged by TECS pursuant to Operation Angel Watch.
In fiscal year 2014, ICE provided notice of travel from the U.S. of approximately 2,300 convicted child sex offenders to over 120 countries.