The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released the below information:
WASHINGTON—U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf (seen in the
above photo) announced Thursday the opening of the DHS Center for Countering
Human Trafficking, the U.S. government’s first-ever integrated law enforcement
operations center directly supporting federal criminal investigations, victim
assistance efforts, intelligence analysis, and outreach and training activities
related to human trafficking and forced labor.
The center, which has been operational since
early September, is based in Washington and led by U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), a global leader of criminal investigations into human
trafficking and sexual exploitation. The center will be staffed with law
enforcement officials from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and across
DHS, as well as subject matter experts and support staff from 16 DHS
components—all focused on the “4 Ps” of the center’s mission: prevention,
protection, prosecution and partnerships.
“Human trafficking is modern day slavery. There
is no other way to say it,” said Acting Secretary Chad Wolf. “The words are
strong because the actions are evil. The forms of exploitation, sex
trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude that constitute human
trafficking are antithetical in every way to the principles of human dignity
that Americans hold dear. The launch of this Center for Countering Human
Trafficking represents the investment of resources, attention, and time by
President Trump to combat and dismantle all forms of human trafficking.”
On Jan. 15, Wolf signed and released the DHS
Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Importation of Goods Produced with
Forced Labor, and Child Sexual Exploitation (https://www.dhs.gov/publication/strategy-combat-human-trafficking-importation-goods-produced-forced-labor-and-child)
which pledged to bolster DHS efforts to combat human trafficking and forced
labor.
“Human Trafficking, whether through sex or
labor, is a detriment to our society and threatens the moral conscience of our
nation. Criminal organizations target those who are most vulnerable and exploit
them through any means necessary, Victims are treated as commodities rather
than human beings, with no regard for their health and well-being,” said ICE
Senior Official Performing the Duties of Director Tony Pham. “ICE, along with
our internal and external partners, will continue to fight against these
atrocities and answer victims’ cries for help. The Center for Countering Human
Trafficking will serve as evidence that when we work collectively against such
heinous acts, we combat the threat they pose to national security and to public
safety.”
ICE’s HSI has long been a global leader in
investigating human trafficking and sexual exploitation cases and bringing
offenders to justice. The Center will build on the agency’s “victims first”
approach, which balances victim identification, rescue and support with
prevention, investigation, and prosecution of traffickers. ICE HSI is uniquely
positioned to utilize criminal, immigration, and trade-based authorities to
proactively identify, disrupt and dismantle cross-border human trafficking
organizations.
In fiscal year 2019, ICE initiated 1,024 human
trafficking and forced labor related cases which led to 2,197 criminal arrests.
These effective actions resulted in nearly 700 convictions and the rescue of
more than 400 victims.
Reporting suspected sexual or labor exploitation
can help decrease or stop further victimization, as well as lead to the
identification and rescue of other possible victims. To report suspicious
activity or instances of sexual abuse or exploitation, contact your local law
enforcement agency. Tips can be submitted online at https://www.ice.gov/tipline,
by phone at 866-DHS-2-ICE or by contacting your local ICE office.
For more information about the Department of Homeland Security’s overall efforts against human trafficking, visit http://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign
No comments:
Post a Comment