The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) team has a new, expanded Cyber Crimes Center (C3) in Fairfax, Virginia, to help coordinate cyber operations and train agents in cutting edge investigative techniques.

The renovated center unveiled Wednesday will act as the central point for ICE cyber investigations, which focus on issues like theft of intellectual property and export controlled data; sale of stolen credit cards and other personally identifiable information; and the cyber aspects of child exploitation, black markets and document fraud.

Related: Coast Guard Commandant on establishing cyber rules of engagement

The expanded facility includes a new 5,000-square-foot forensic lab, evidence vault, training and conference rooms and a central space for coordinating large operations.

"The men and women of Homeland Security Investigations perform critical work in combating criminals that use the computer as their weapon, perpetrating crimes ranging from child exploitation to the theft of intellectual property," said DHS Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. "The development of this expanded Cyber Crimes Center provides this great workforce with the facility and tools they deserve to accomplish their mission."

Starting in early 2016, the center will also be used to train HSI special agents on the latest techniques in cyber smuggling, undercover operations and intrusion detection and investigations. These training sessions will be added to C3's current portfolio, which includes the use of cyber tools to identify victims in child sexual exploitation investigations.

Aaron Boyd is an awarding-winning journalist currently serving as editor of Federal Times — a Washington, D.C. institution covering federal workforce and contracting for more than 50 years — and Fifth Domain — a news and information hub focused on cybersecurity and cyberwar from a civilian, military and international perspective.

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