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Congress Makes Strides to Eradicate Human Trafficking
.gif!OpenImageResource) Every year, more than 17,000 people are brought by human traffickers into the United States where they often live like slaves, enduring rape, unsafe working conditions and other threats, said a department of Justice report presented to Congress Tuesday.
According to Homeland Security officials, criminal organizations worldwide make more than $9 billion in human smuggling and trafficking. These organizations often sell drugs and weapons as well as launder money in addition to transporting and selling people.
According to the Associated Press, Congress passed a law in 2000 making it easier for prosecutors to bring charges against human traffickers. As of April 2004, the Justice Department had 153 open investigations, double the number as the same point in 2001.
World Vision is working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to prevent the abuse of vulnerable children, particularly those trapped in the sex trade, by American tourists.
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