Brad Simon, the acting chief patrol agent of the U.S. Border Patrol Detroit sector, recently utilized social media to raise awareness about Human Trafficking Awareness Day. He provided valuable information for citizens on the actions they can take if they suspect someone is involved in human trafficking.
Simon stated, "#HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay begins annually on January 11th. If you suspect someone is a victim of human trafficking, contact the National Human Tracking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. You can also contact local law enforcement by calling 911."
President Biden also addressed this issue in a news release proclaiming January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. He said, "More than 27 million people around the world endure the abhorrent abuse of human trafficking and forced labor, including thousands of people right here in the United States. It is a threat to global security, public safety, and human dignity."
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website, January 11 is recognized as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. DHS leads an initiative known as the Blue Campaign that encourages individuals to wear blue clothing and share it on social media using the hashtag #WearBlueDay. The campaign additionally hosts several special events and educational activities.
Biden further elaborated on this matter by stating, "The vast majority of human trafficking victims are women and girls. In 2022, we reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, which I first wrote as a United States Senator some 30 years ago — this time expanding the jurisdiction of Tribal courts to prosecute non-Native American sex traffickers." He continued by saying that "The American Rescue Plan also provided tens of thousands of housing vouchers to help people fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking find a safe home and reclaim their lives. As we work to help people disproportionately affected by human trafficking, including members of racial and ethnic minorities, women and girls, the LGBTQI+ community, and migrants, we remain committed to learning from and partnering with survivors to support their recoveries and to recruit their help in better spotting and preventing these too often overlooked crimes."
