The shocking news was revealed during a human trafficking educational event on Thursday, May 14, when U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Jacque Shiflett addressed citizens and law enforcement officials.<\/p>\n
\u201cHuman trafficking is modern-day slavery,\u201d said Shiflett.<\/p>\n
With millions of victims globally, Shiflett said America wasn\u2019t immune, stating that more than 17,000 victims are enslaved across the country. She cautioned that traffickers routinely preyed upon the young, desperate and easily manipulated.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s physical and psychological abuse,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Shiflett was one of four presenters at last week\u2019s seminar, co-sponsored by the Montezuma County League of Women Voters, Cortez United Methodist Church and Cortez Police Department. More than 100 people from Grand Junction to Alamosa and even Phoenix attended.<\/p>\n
Shiflett added the crime was more than just a \u201cbig city\u201d problem, citing traffickers would routinely avoid major interstate arteries to travel along U.S. 491 and 160.<\/p>\n
\u201cData shows that trafficking happens here in the Four Corners,\u201d said Shiflett.<\/p>\n
Shiflett also addressed the differences between trafficking and smuggling. Smuggling, for example, is a transportation-based crime against a border that requires movement. Trafficking, on the other hand, is an exploitation-based crime against a person that requires coercion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are synonymous, but they aren\u2019t the same,\u201d said Shiflett.<\/p>\n
Angelika Carnes, a human-trafficking advocate with the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, said the risk factors for falling victim to human trafficking included poverty, trauma, homelessness and those that are marginalized, such as people with a disability or identify as being gay. Carnes said most of the sexually exploited victims she helps are American citizens, and not foreigners.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have someone that you suspect is being trafficked, don\u2019t try to rescue them,\u201d Carnes warned. \u201cIt can be dangerous to get involved \u2026 exploiters are watching their clients.\u201d<\/p>\n
To fight back against human trafficking, Holly Landgren, resident agent in charge of the Homeland Securities Investigations unit in Durango, said government officials, faith-based groups, private citizens and law enforcement all needed to work together.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes everybody to help combat this problem,\u201d said Landgren.<\/p>\n
Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane agreed, encouraging citizens to be mindful and observant.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour eyes are ears are what\u2019s important,\u201d Lane said.<\/p>\n
To help raise awareness and end human trafficking, the U.S. Department of Human Services has launched its \u201cBlue Campaign.\u201d For more, log onto www. DHS.gove\/BlueCampaign.<\/p>\n