The Eastern District of Texas is marking National Human Trafficking Prevention Month by joining with the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) to reinforce efforts against human trafficking and support victims. The month serves as a time for agencies, through Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), to focus on operational actions, public awareness campaigns, and collaboration among federal, state, and local partners to target trafficking networks.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “This Department of Justice is working tirelessly alongside our partners to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors, and protect vulnerable populations from being exploited. Under this administration we have seen an increase in human trafficking prosecutions, and during Human Trafficking Prevention Month we reaffirm our commitment to prosecuting traffickers and encourage Americans to report instances of human trafficking in their communities.”
United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem commented on ongoing efforts: “Through the Homeland Security Task Force, President Trump is taking the fight directly to human trafficking networks and disrupting their modern-day slave trade while seizing their assets and arresting their kingpins and foot soldiers. The American people should not have to live in fear of cartels, gang bangers, and foreign terrorists preying upon the most vulnerable among us. The Homeland Security Task Force is the largest coordinated campaign against transnational criminal organizations in U.S. history, and I’m proud to co-lead it with Attorney General Bondi.”
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized law enforcement cooperation: “During Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the FBI reiterates our work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and national victim-based advocacy groups in joint task forces to protect our communities across the country. The horrifying reach of human trafficking spreads far and wide. Homeland Security Task Forces are fighting back to disrupt these perilous networks and put a stop to that reach. The FBI will continue our investigations and bring justice to those exploited by human traffickers.”
U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs highlighted ongoing operations: “The premise of Operation Take Back America is protecting our Homeland, which is particularly fitting today as we recognize Human Trafficking Prevention Month. There is no greater fight than this, but regardless of the month, from January 1st to December 31st every year, we will continue to seek justice for all victims of Human Trafficking.”
In January 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14159 which directed DHS and DOJ leadership to set up HSTFs nationwide with goals that include ending cartel activity within U.S. borders; dismantling smuggling rings; focusing on crimes involving children; using available law enforcement tools; and enforcing immigration laws.
Since early 2025 in the Eastern District of Texas there have been several cases resulting in convictions against sex traffickers who used violence such as beatings or shock devices against women forced into commercial sex acts; seven life sentences were handed down for a man convicted of trafficking teenage girls; prosecutions occurred for individuals transporting women for prostitution across state lines with associated violence; other charges involved sex trafficking violations.
For January 2026 initiatives include prioritizing ongoing investigations at federal locations—especially near borders—and partnering with organizations like AMTRAK for public outreach about reporting suspected cases using QR codes posted in stations or trains. Resources are also being directed toward recovery programs funded by money seized from illegal operations such as Backpage.
Outreach extends into schools through seminars led by DHS’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking highlighting HSTF roles.
On August 25th last year HSTF began its formal campaign leading up to September Surge—a period covering over 400 operations nationwide resulting in more than three thousand arrests including members from major international criminal organizations such as Sinaloa Cartel or CJNG along with weapons seizures, cash confiscations exceeding $3 million dollars, narcotics amounting nearly ninety-one metric tons.
