Homeland Security Investigations and law enforcement partners on July 30 launched Operation Red Card, a multiagency effort targeting human trafficking and child exploitation networks expected to exploit the FIFA World Cup, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced.
The operation, initiated from HSI’s Atlanta field office, is coordinated nationally with HSI offices across the country participating. Law enforcement officials said major international sporting events historically create conditions that traffickers exploit to move victims across borders and into forced labor or sexual exploitation.
The FIFA World Cup, one of the highest-profile sporting events ever hosted in the United States, is expected to draw millions of visitors and generate enormous demand for hospitality, transportation, and entertainment services. Federal officials said those conditions can increase vulnerability to trafficking.
HSI agents are working with state, local, and international law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt trafficking networks before and during the tournament. The operation includes investigations into both sex trafficking and labor trafficking, with a particular focus on protecting children.
ICE said Operation Red Card will use intelligence-driven targeting to identify trafficking organizations and rescue victims. The operation builds on previous HSI efforts tied to major sporting events, including operations conducted during past Super Bowls and international tournaments.
Human trafficking is a federal crime carrying severe penalties, including up to life in prison for trafficking involving children. HSI is the principal federal investigative agency for human trafficking and has made thousands of arrests in trafficking cases in recent years.
The operation’s name references the red card penalty in soccer, signaling that trafficking will be met with zero tolerance during the World Cup.