U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) marked National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, also known as Wear Blue Day, on January 11 to recognize National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. This event symbolizes the collective action of over 60,000 CBP employees who are committed to combating human trafficking.
"National Human Trafficking Prevention Month is an opportunity to raise awareness for victims of human trafficking and to shine a light on the work we do every day to combat it," stated Pete Flores, CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of Commissioner. "Each day, CBP continues to crack down on criminal organizations that participate in human trafficking. CBP aims to strengthen its commitment throughout the agency–including U.S. Border Patrol, Air and Marine Operations, Office of Field Operations, and the Office of Trade–to prevent this exploitation before it occurs."
With approximately 42,000 frontline officers and agents safeguarding nearly 7,000 miles of land border and more than 320 ports of entry, CBP plays a crucial role in fighting human trafficking. The staff identifies potential victims entering the U.S., directing them to agencies that provide legal protection and assistance. Additionally, CBP collaborates with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation on the Blue Lightning Initiative. This initiative trains airline personnel to identify human traffickers and their victims.
These efforts have shown results; from 2012 to 2022, the number of persons prosecuted for human trafficking more than doubled, as did those convicted for such offenses.
Furthermore, CBP's Office of Trade works to identify imports suspected of being made with forced labor. Companies must address violations before their products can enter the country, which improves conditions for workers worldwide. Since implementing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) in 2022—which prohibits goods produced in China's Xinjiang region—CBP has denied nearly 5,000 shipments due to suspected forced labor use. Recently, DHS announced adding 37 entities to the UFLPA Entity List—the largest single expansion yet.
For more information on CBP’s efforts against human trafficking and forced labor, visit their Human Trafficking webpage or read "Breaking Unseen Chains" in Frontline Magazine.
CBP encourages public participation in fighting human trafficking by following campaigns on X @CBP and @BlueCampaign.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) serves as America's frontline: it is both the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. Over 65,000 men and women at CBP protect America across various domains while facilitating safe travel and trade.
