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Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit
ICE strategic priorities of border security and immigration enforcement allow for an unprecedented and comprehensive law enforcement approach to address the scourge of human trafficking, both domestically and internationally. ICE has a Human Smuggling and Trafficking Unit dedicated to human trafficking investigations where adults and children are being recruited, transported and forced into involuntary servitude, including prostitution or other types of forced labor. ICE specifically targets human traffickers and sex tourists, among others, who exploit children. ICE’s aggressive enforcement of the recently enacted PROTECT Act helps prevent children from being sexually abused and lessens the demand for internationally trafficked children. ICE made the first six arrests under the sex tourism provisions of the PROTECT Act.

The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000
provides victims of severe forms of trafficking access to a wide range of benefits and services, such as information about their rights, referral for counseling, medical services, legal assistance, food, housing, and victim restitution. ICE Victim Witness Coordinators, in partnership with the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services, focus on providing that assistance to the victims of trafficking ICE agents identify during their investigations.

House Committee on Financial Services: Addressing the Demand for Trafficking

BUSH ADMINISTRATION HOSTS FIRST NATIONAL TRAINING CONFERENCE TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING

President George W. Bush And Attorney General John Ashcroft Address Conference

TAMPA - Today, President Bush joined Attorney General Ashcroft and other senior Bush Administration officials at the first-ever national training conference on human trafficking: Human Trafficking into the United States: Rescuing Women and Children from Slavery. Hosted by the Justice Department, the conference brought together over 500 attendees, comprised of the hundreds of state, local and federal officials who work together to combat human trafficking in communities across America. Trafficking in persons, a modern day form of slavery, is a serious problem in the United States and throughout the world. Each year, an estimated 600,000-800,000 men, women, and children are trafficked against their will across international borders. Of those, 14,500-17,500 are trafficked into America. Victims are forced into prostitution, or to work in sweatshops, quarries, as domestic labor, or child soldiers, and in many forms of involuntary servitude.

Throughout the past three years, the Bush Administration has taken strong steps to combat trafficking at home and abroad. Today at the conference, the Bush Administration announced new steps and resources to combat human trafficking. These initiatives include $14 million to law enforcement to help human trafficking victims, $4.5 million for organizations to assist victims, new interagency cooperation to ensure the timely delivery of benefits and services to victims, a model state law criminalizing human trafficking, new training resources, new task forces, as well as greatly increased investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking.

“From the very beginning of his Administration, President Bush has spoken forcefully and eloquently about the brutal crime of human trafficking,” said Attorney General John Ashcroft. “We will protect the victims, prosecute the perpetrators, and build partnerships to address, attack and prevent human trafficking. These steps send a clear message that America will repel aggressively assaults on our core values of freedom and respect for human dignity. We have had success in the past three years, but we understand that these efforts are only the beginning. It is critical that we work together to track down those who hide their barbaric businesses in the shadows, and to help their victims.”

* $14 Million for Law Enforcement Agencies and Service Providers To Help Trafficking Victims:

The Bush Administration today announced Department of Justice funding to support and implement local efforts to identify, rescue, and restore victims of trafficking. The Justice Department will make available $14 million to law enforcement agencies and service providers, and as many as 25 communities across the country will be eligible to receive this funding. This money will support anti-trafficking efforts to identify, rescue and restore victims of trafficking in communities across the country. The Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) will administer the new grant program.

* $4.5 Million for Organizations To Help Trafficking Victims: Today, the Justice Department awarded $4.5 million to nine local organizations that provide shelter where victims of trafficking can find refuge in the interval between rescue and the determination of eligibility for public assistance and other benefits. The grant program provides comprehensive services for victims of trafficking by building on existing community resources, to strengthen the collaboration and cooperation among existing agencies and organizations that serve trafficking victims; to provide training to criminal justice personnel, social service providers and the public of the rights and needs of trafficking victims; and to support the ability of trafficking victims to cooperate with law enforcement and prosecutors in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases. The Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) is administering this grant program. Grant recipients include: