To Stop Human Trafficking, We Must Raise Public Awareness And Secure The Southern Border

Todd RokitaJanuary 18, 2023

Frederick Douglass, an American great abolitionist, spoke out against slavery in 1850. “violates the great law of liberty, written on every human heart.” He added that it was also a good idea. “contravenes the laws of eternal justice, and tramples in the dust all the humane and heavenly precepts of the New Testament.”

In 1865, America banished chattel slavery, but nowadays — yes, even in 2023 — a modern form of slavery persists in the form of illegal human trafficking. There are many victims right here in America.

Human trafficking refers to any act that uses force, fraud, coercion, or coercion for another individual to provide labor, service, or commercial sexual acts. Under 18 years old, a person engaged in commercial sex acts constitutes human trafficking. still occurs Even without the use of coercion, fraud, and force.

It is difficult to compile statistics about this evil global enterprise worth $150 billion because it operates in the shadows. We need to have the same determination as the 19th century abolitionists in our fight for justice, liberty, and peace.

People who look away from signs that someone is a victim of human trafficking are enabling it.

It is also supported and exacerbated when elected leftist leaders (such the current president), willfully embrace the porous U.S.–Mexico border, over which so many victims of human trafficking into the United States.

As Indiana’s attorney general, I am committed to promoting greater awareness among the public of human trafficking — and I am committed to forcing our federal government to get serious about border security.

National Human Trafficking Awareness Month being January, it is a good time to remind Hoosiers as well as all Americans to watch out for signs that someone might have been trafficked.

The U.S. State Department states that these signs can be used to identify:

Their employer is their life.

Lives with multiple people in a small space.

Otherwise, it is difficult to live in a decent environment.

It is forbidden to speak alone to strangers.

Gives answers that look scripted or rehearsed.

Employer holds their identity documents.

Signs of physical abuse

Fearful or submissive

is not paid or received very little.

If you are under 18 years old and work in the commercial sex business.

People in certain job roles — such as medical professionals, restaurant workers, teachers, and truck drivers — are particularly likely to come into contact with trafficking victims.

Anybody suspecting the victim of human trafficking should call their local police. They can also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888.

My office works with law enforcement to assist crime victims — including administering our Address Confidentiality Program. This initiative enables victims of certain crimes, including trafficking, to conceal their residential address from the public — and therefore from their victimizers.

Combating this scourge, however, also requires sealing our nation’s southern border from easy trespass by people with criminal intent.

Mexico’s criminal cartels are responsible for significant amounts of the human trafficking occurring in the United States.

“In the U.S., immigrants, especially immigrant women, make up the largest portion of trafficking victims,” notes Selene Rodriguez at TexasPolicy.com. “In fiscal year 2021, there were nearly 2 million migrant apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border, and that number only accounts for the people encountered by border agents.”

The Latin American branch of the Institute for Research in Education (IRLE) has done studies. Coalition Against Trafficking International According to estimates, 60% of Latin American children set out to cross the border by themselves or with smugglers. “have been caught by the cartels and are being abused in child pornography or drug trafficking.”

As Indiana attorney-general, I have filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit aimed at forcing the Biden administration to get serious about securing the border — solely on behalf of Indiana, based on damages unique to our state.

Secured border security would provide relief for millions of Hoosiers as well as all U.S citizens currently suffering from illegal runaway immigration. It could also prevent trafficking in children and women from Latin American nations.

These issues should be brought up not just during National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Beyond the words, we must take action.

Todd Rokita is Indiana’s attorney general.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s and not necessarily those of The Daily Wire.