Q&A: Human Trafficking

Q&A: Human Trafficking

With U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley

Q: What are you doing to stop human trafficking?

A: Although it's hard to believe human trafficking and forced labor exists in the 21st century, these horrible crimes take place right underneath our noses, even in rural America. Over the years, I've learned that children, runaways, foster youth and migrants are targeted for illicit sex trafficking and forced labor. This issue comes up during my annual 99 county meetings.

For decades, I've worked to help raise public awareness about human trafficking and shape public policy that provides support services for survivors, strengthens enforcement and boosts prevention measures to protect the most vulnerable people in society from these crimes. From using the federal tax code to go after those who make money in the underground economy by selling sexual access to girls and women, to making sure money provided from the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act was flowing into the Domestic Trafficking Victims Fund, as intended, I leave no stone unturned to root out these crimes against humanity and restore hope and healing to survivors. However, during the Biden administration, this situation has sadly gotten even worse.

Iowans raised concerns with me about migrant children who have been exploited and lost during the Biden administration. That's why I've led congressional oversight of the Biden administration's failed policies and mismanagement of federal programs for migrant children who come into the country without an adult guardian. My oversight exposed glaring gaps and safety risks to these kids; federal records revealed how the federal government has failed to prevent sponsors from exploiting unaccompanied minors entrusted to their care.

My office worked closely with whistleblowers to identify as many missing children as possible, in hopes they can be found and saved. I've kept up the drumbeat, convening an oversight roundtable in Washington last summer to expose wrongdoing and urge federal agencies to do their jobs and protect these children from trafficking and abuse. According to reports, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services couldn't reach more than a third of the unaccompanied children it had placed in the custody and protection of sponsors since the start of the Biden administration. What's worse, whistleblower disclosures showed evidence of children placed in the hands of likely traffickers, despite clear red flags. Despite my repeated warnings to federal authorities, the Biden administration failed to take action to prevent these children from falling into the wrong hands. In January, I resumed my chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where I'll continue pushing to fix the failed Biden administration policies that put tens of thousands of migrant children in harm's way. In fact, one of the first bills I joined in introducing this Congress was the PRINTS Act to empower law enforcement to identify victims of child trafficking.

Q: How can people report concerns or seek help?

A: Raising public awareness about these unspeakable crimes is step one. Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world, robbing more than 27 million people of their freedom, with criminal networks profiting tens of billions of dollars annually. Educating people in the community to look out for potential human trafficking crimes will help save lives and root out bad actors taking advantage of vulnerable kids, teenagers and migrants exploited for human trafficking. People working on the front lines of the hospitality, transportation and travel industries are in a unique position to be eyes and ears on the ground to help law enforcement and government officials respond more effectively.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) advises people working in the transportation sector, as well as the traveling public, to recognize and report potential trafficking crimes. The DOT launched its #PutTheBrakesOnHumanTrafficking initiative to train transit employees and educate the public about suspicious behaviors that may indicate human trafficking. Clues to look for include: a potential victim's responses appear scripted or rehearsed; signs of physical abuse; a potential victim is closely monitored and appears submissive or fearful. The public is encouraged to immediately alert law enforcement about a trafficking situation.

If an individual has escaped a trafficking situation, organizations are available to help with shelter, medical care, legal assistance and other services. The national human trafficking hotline operates 24/7 at (888) 373-7888 or text HELP to BeFree (233733). The Iowa Victim Service Call Center is (800) 770-1650, or text IOWAHELP to 20121.

To report suspicious criminal activity, contact the 24-hour tip line, operated by trained specialists at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations, at (866) DHS-2-ICE/ (866) 347-2423. Iowans may also use an anonymous reporting tool online found at StopHTIowa.org, operated by the Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking at the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month.

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