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What You Need to Know About Domestic Servitude
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, domestic work is the number-one venue for labor trafficking in the United States? Domestic servitude is a form of human trafficking in which domestic workers are kept in employment against their will through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Victims of this crime are often abused and underpaid, if paid at all. Traffickers take advantage of the fact that authorities cannot inspect homes as easily as they can in formal workplaces. But you can be a victim’s voice.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign offers a variety of resources that can be helpful for identifying and reporting potential cases of domestic servitude, as well as other types of forced labor:
To report criminal violations of forced labor, contact the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) tip line at 866-347-2423 or submit a HSI tip form online.
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Blue Campaign’s Michael Camal Selected as Finalist for Service to America Medal
Michael Camal, Senior Advisor at DHS Blue Campaign and the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI), was recently announced as a finalist for the 2023 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal. This premier awards program of the Partnership for Public Service honors outstanding individuals who, through their careers as public servants, build trust in the federal government and inspire others to join the federal workforce. Camal, who has dedicated the last five years to spreading awareness of human trafficking and educating the aviation industry, is nominated in the Emerging Leaders category. Read more here: bit.ly/41iiApP.
As a finalist, Camal is also a candidate for the People’s Choice Award. Voting is open, and you can vote once a day. To cast your vote, visit: bit.ly/3HRtJqS.
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Registration Open for Blue Campaign’s “Concern” Course
#NationalPoliceWeek began May 2 and runs through May 15, 2023. As we honor our law enforcement community, we also recognize the unique role they play in combating human trafficking. “Concern” is a new DHS Blue Campaign interactive and asynchronous virtual training course hosted on Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) for state and local law enforcement officers and agents. This eLearning simulation provides law enforcement, and those likely to encounter human trafficking victims, opportunities to practice interviewing with a victim-centered approach.*
Students who complete this course will be able to:
- Advocate for the victim
- Develop rapport and establish trust
- Interview victims without judgment
Four flexible sessions are available for registration:
- April 24, 2023 – June 2, 2023
- June 5, 2023 – July 14, 2023
- July 17, 2023 – August 25, 2023
- August 28, 2023 – October 6, 2023
Visit the following link to register: go.dhs.gov/4Wh.
*Classes are free to sign up. At the above website, enter BCATP in the search bar. Registration is required. Each class is limited to 50 students.
The Blue Lightning Initiative Begins Partnership with Tulsa International Airport
Tulsa International Airport (TUL) has committed to doing its part in the industry-wide effort to combat human trafficking by partnering with the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI). Through the partnership, employees at the main airport and at Richard Lloyd Jones Riverside will be trained to spot potential victims of the crime. TUL has already posted awareness signs for passengers, and there are plans for public address system announcements in the future. The partnership is part of a larger effort to encourage more reporting of suspected human trafficking situations.
CCHT Director Addresses Healthcare Workers and other Professionals at Bon Secours St. Francis 5th Annual Seminar on Human Trafficking
In early April, DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) Director Cardell T. Morant delivered a keynote address to hundreds of healthcare, behavioral health and victim service providers, social service and juvenile justice professionals, educators, and members of the public at the Bon Secours St. Francis 5th Annual Seminar on Human Trafficking.
“The investigation and prosecution of trafficking crimes is a top priority for DHS,” said Director Morant. “We are a leader in this fight. We work with partners at every level to prevent these crimes, to identify and protect victims, and to bring perpetrators to justice. My hope is that by the end of today you will join us as partners by becoming more aware of what trafficking looks like and how to report it.”
The event took place at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Bon Secours St. Francis foundation is a non-profit organization with a commitment to advocacy for the most vulnerable in their communities. Director Morant addressed the work of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, DHS counter-trafficking investigations, victim protection, and how the public can detect and prevent human trafficking through awareness of indicators. He also highlighted the wide variety of educational materials available from the Blue Campaign.
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HSI Allentown Investigation Leads to Significant Sentences for Gang Members Who Violently Trafficked Adults and Minors
In March 2023, Richard Poulsen was sentenced in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to 20 years in prison for his role in a Pennsylvania sex trafficking organization. To date, 14 members or associates of a violent gang known as “the Sevens” have either pleaded or been found guilty by a jury of crimes including conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion of a minor, kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, and firearms offenses. The gang operated out of a 50-room boarding house in the city of Reading, where they strictly controlled who entered and exited the building using threats and violence.
HSI Allentown and the City of Reading Police Department conducted the year-long investigation, during which 43 victims, including 15 trafficking victims, were identified and assisted. Two of the trafficking victims were minors. Victims had been subjected to acts of extreme violence, including assaults with various weapons. Sexually explicit photographs of a minor were used to advertise the gang’s sex trafficking business.
“These horrific crimes were taking place in our own backyard,” said HSI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge William Walker. “Thanks to HSI’s close partnership with the Reading Police Department and our law enforcement colleagues in the area, we were able to track down these violent criminals, and most importantly, put a stop to an illicit operation that would have undoubtedly resulted in more innocent victims. It’s critical that members of the public educate themselves on human trafficking crimes, so they recognize the indicators and alert law enforcement accordingly. An educated public can help law enforcement rescue victims of these heinous situations and ensure those committing these acts are punished.”
As of this writing, two of the gang leaders have been sentenced to life imprisonment, with other defendants receiving sentences ranging from six to 37 years.
CCHT provided support and assistance to HSI Allentown during the investigation.
More information can be found in the Department of Justice press release.
For more information visit the Blue Campaign
To report suspected human trafficking: 1-866-347-2423
To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733)
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