|
Message from Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf on Human Trafficking Month
DHS recognizes the threat that human trafficking, the importation of goods produced with forced labor, and child sexual exploitation pose to our nation. These threats don’t just impact Americans’ personal and public safety—they threaten our physical and virtual borders, immigration and customs systems and national security. These crimes against humanity have no place in our society.
Last week, I announced the Department’s first Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Importation of Goods Produced with Forced Labor, and Child Sexual Exploitation, to leverage the Department’s authorities to eliminate such inhumane activity. I encourage each of you to read this Strategy and familiarize yourself on how we are combatting this issue. As part of the homeland security mission, DHS enforces trade, travel, and victim protection laws to combat these illicit activities. On a daily basis, DHS professionals identify and assist victims of horrendous exploitation, strive for U.S. supply chains to be free from forced labor, and arrest human traffickers and child sex offenders.
Learn about the new direction that we will take to improve and coordinate our efforts to eliminate these urgent, nationwide humanitarian issues, saving lives, empowering victims, and bringing criminals to justice. This is a Department priority. The Strategy articulates the Department’s priorities over the next five years to combat these issues:
- preventing exploitative crimes;
- protecting victims;
- investigating and prosecuting perpetrators;
- partnering with the homeland security enterprise; and
- enabling DHS through organizational improvements to combat these illicit activities.
The strategy outlines nearly 40 novel actions for the Department to take. I look forward to working with leadership across DHS to ensure that these efforts are swiftly implemented. In 180 days, the Department will publish an implementation plan that includes specific deliverables, timelines, and metrics for key results. I want to thank the employees of DHS, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) teams, our task force and other key partners. You are unsung heroes on the frontlines of addressing these issues every day. The work you do gives victims hope and helps bring criminals to justice.
Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf
U.S. Department of Homeland
With honor and integrity, we will safeguard the American people, our homeland and, and our values.
|
