During this ‘National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month‘, the Department of Homeland Security is highlighting its ongoing efforts to investigate human trafficking networks and support victims of sex trafficking and forced labor across the United States.
Early in the administration, DHS was directed to prioritize human trafficking enforcement through a series of executive orders focused on border security and public safety. Those efforts are coordinated through the Homeland Security Task Force, co-led by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, which serves as the department’s primary mechanism for integrating investigations, victim services, intelligence, and outreach related to trafficking.
Through these initiatives, DHS components continue to pursue investigations targeting trafficking organizations, working alongside federal, state, local, and international partners to identify traffickers, disrupt criminal networks, and provide assistance to victims.
“The brave men and women of DHS are the best in the world at going after traffickers. They are always able to track down those who are trafficking individuals, find the ringleaders, and rip that evil off by its head,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “I’m so thankful that I get the chance to lead individuals like that and agents who get up every day to help save our children and to save women and men from the kind of slavery that we’ve seen.”
The original announcement can be found here.