By: Jordan Mann
On Tuesday, October 20th, the Ascension Catholic School in Oak Park hosted a lecture on “Human Trafficking.” FBI Supervisory Special Agent Brian Dugan was the guest speaker for this disturbing lecture.
Dugan pointed out that although the subject is disturbing; it is important to disseminate this information because an informed populace goes a long way in fighting this crime. The lecture began with an explanation of human trafficking; which is modern day slavery. If the victim is over the age of 18; force, fraud or coercion must have been a factor in the crime. If the victim is a minor it is a crime without the need to prove force, fraud or coercion.
Human smuggling is not the same crime. Human smuggling is a border violation and involves getting a person into or out of a country. The person being smuggled is not a victim. Although it can turn into human trafficking if the person being smuggled is forced to work for no pay after being smuggled.
Human trafficking is described as forced labor and is not exclusive to the sex trade. Trafficking victims are also forced to work as nannies or maids, sweatshop workers, janitors, food service employees, migrant farmers, fishery workers, tourist or hospitality workers, beggars and even in some nail salons.
It is estimated that there are almost 30 million victims of human trafficking globally and hundreds of thousands of those victims are in the US. At least 105,000 minors are victims of sex trafficking in the US according to the Justice Department. In Chicago, 90% of trafficking victims work in the sex trade; the percentages change in rural areas but the majority still work in the sex trade.
Sex trafficking is considered the fastest growing organized crime. Dugan pointed out that the FBI uses a victim-centered approach to these crimes. They are there to help get the victims get away from the traffickers and prosecute only the traffickers. This unit does not arrest prostitutes who are adults and in the business by choice. The FBI does offer to help them get out of the life but it is only an offer and no force is used. However, when they encounter minors, they are helped whether they want help or not.
This is a very difficult job for law enforcement officers and one of the few units that is strictly volunteer in the FBI. The work takes a huge emotional toll on the agents according to Dugan; they do this because they know someone has to help these victims.
At the end of the lecture Dugan passed out a laminated card titled “You May be a Trafficking Victim if”:
– You are not being paid for your work, or your wages are held by your boss.
– Your working conditions make you feel unsafe.
– You are not free to come and go as you please.
– You feel threatened or members of your family have been threatened
– Your personal belongings and ID have been taken from you.
– You are subjected to physical violence or emotional abuse at work.
– You have had false a ID given to you.
– Your communication with family and friends is restricted or denied.
– You are denied rest and are forced to work while you are sick.
If you, or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, please call the Chicago FBI Office at 312-421-6700.
