Feb
23
Human trafficking actually exists? That’s a question that comes up from time to time. Sadly, the answer is yes. The U.S. Congress requires the State Department to submit an annual report each year on “foreign governments’ efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons.” The Report, now the 8th annual one, states:
The International Labor Organization (ILO)—the United Nations agency charged with addressing labor standards, employment, and social protection issues—estimates that there are 12.3 million people in forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, and sexual servitude at any given time; other estimates range from 4 million to 27 million.
Additionally, the Report states that Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s offices “initiated 182 investigations, charged 89 individuals, and obtained 103 convictions in cases involving human trafficking” in the United States during fiscal year 2007. Read the entire report…
Because of the nature of human trafficking, its victims generally do not have authorization to remain in the United States and are subject deportation. This creates two problems: 1) the deportation of the victim deprives the prosecution of a crucial witness in its case against the traffickers; and 2) the victim could be victimized again in their home country by the same trafficking organization.
In an effort to provide relief to the victims and aid in the prosecution of these modern day slave traders, Congress authorized the “T-Visa”. To qualify for the T-Visa, a victim:
- must have been subjected to “severe trafficking”;
- be physically present in the United States;
- the Attorney General or Secretary of DHS must agree that the victim has complied with a reasonable request by a Federal, State, or Local law enforcement agency to assist in the investigation or prosecution of such trafficking
- the victim would suffer “extreme hardship involving unusual and severe harm upon removal” from the United States.
The Code of Federal Regulations defines “severe trafficking” as either a commercial sex act that is induced by force, fraud, or coercion (“sex trafficking) or the recruitment, harboring, or other acts of obtaining persons or labor by force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose subjection to slavery, debt bondage, or involuntary servitude (“labor trafficking”). See generally 8 C.F.R. §214.11(a). The T-visa also requires the victim to cooperate with law enforcement’s “reasonable request” to assist in the investigation or prosecution of the trafficking.
Here is a good discussion about the T-Visa…
An excellent “rockumentary”on the subject is Justin Dillon’s Call and Response…
Please do not forget to pray for the victims of human trafficking and pray for the end of this horrible practice.
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