Washington Report: Representative Noem

Washington Report: When Modern Day Slavery Hits Home

By Rep. Kristi Noem

Issues that exist in dozens of countries and on nearly every continent become easy to pass off as an international problem rather than a local one, so it’s understandable that when most South Dakotans hear the words “human trafficking, ” our focus goes across the border. Maybe the movie Taken comes to mind and we think of the daughter of Liam Neeson’s characterwhoiskidnappedwhileinParis,druggedandput up for auction by human traffickers.

Sadly, the issue exists right in our backyard. I-90 is known as the “Midwest Pipeline” and is used to transport victims of human trafficking across the country. Traffickers use places like Sioux Falls as a base to gain access to demand fromtheTwinCitiesandNorthDakota’sBakkenOilField.

We also cannot ignore the crisis occurring on Indian Reservations across the country where Native American women and children are being targeted and exploited by sex traffickers. During a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing last September, Lisa Brunner of the White Earth Ojibwe Nation in Minnesota called human trafficking involving Native women an “epidemic. ”

Here in South Dakota, local law enforcement officials have worked hard to identify sex traffickers and bring them into custody.Justmonthsago,officialsarrestedaWisconsinman inSiouxFallsforluringintwogirls,includingaminor,and thenforciblysellingthemasescortsviatheInternet.

Wehaveseenahandfulofarrestslikethisoverthelastfew years, but more can and must be done with the support of the public and Congress.

Today ’s federal trafficking laws provide protections and resources for victims and equip prosecutors with the tools they need to go after traffickers.The law, however, isn’t as clear when it comes to those who solicit the services of a trafficking victim.

These buyers create demand and drive this criminal business.As President GeorgeW. Bush stated, “We cannot put [human traffickers] out of business until and unless we deal with the problem of demand. ” To begin to better combat human trafficking, I’ ve cosponsored the End Sex Trafficking Act, which would strengthenprosecutors’abilitytogoafterthosewhosolicit, patronize, or obtain these illegal services.

While Congress works to strengthen and clarify our nation’shumantraffickinglaws,therearethingsyoucando to help as well. One of the most important things you can doiskeepalookoutforindicatorsofhumantrafficking.Is someone you know not free to come and go as they wish from their home or workplace? Do they owe a large debt thatthey ’reunabletopayoff?Aretheyanxious,depressed, submissive, or tense? These are all signs that should be taken seriously and can be reported through the National HumanTrafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.

Asmanyas300,000childrenareatriskofbecomingvictims of sex trafficking every year in the United States – some of themarerighthereinSouthDakota.Joinmetodayinfinding betterwaystocombatthisdisgustingtrade: j Lookforsignsinourcommunities. j Talktoyourfriendsandfamilytohelpbuildawareness. j Supportthelocalorganizationsthathelphealthevictims ofthisappallingindustry.

Now is the time to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors rebuild their lives, and bring all those who exploit other human beings to justice.