>> HIGH, EVERYBODY, AND WELCOME TO THE WEBINAR ON COMBATING
HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.
IF FOR SOME REASON YOU ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY OR IT'S NOT
CLEAR WHAT YOU ARE HEARING, LET US KNOW IN THAT CHAT BOX.
WE ALSO WANT TO UTILIZE THE CHAT BOX FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU
MAY HAVE DURING THIS PRESENTATION.
WITHOUT FURTHER A DO, WE ARE GOING TO KICK THIS OFF.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I AM SCOTT SANTORO.
I'M GOING TO BE ONE OF YOUR PRESENTERS TODAY.
JERRY WILL INTRODUCE HERSELF IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT I'M GOING TO
KICK THIS OFF. I'M SCOTT. I WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING
CENTER'S. I'VE BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS. BEFORE
THAT, I WAS A PROSECUTING ATTORNEY IN THE SEATTLE,
WASHINGTON AREA. FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS, I'VE
WORKED WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN CREATING THEIR HUMAN TRAFFICKING
PRODUCTS, AND WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS PART OF THE FRUITS OF
OUR LABOR IN THE DEPARTMENT. WHAT I WANT TO DO NOW IS SHOW
YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BLUE CAMPAIGN.
IT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT
HUMAN TRAFFICKING. THE CAMPAIGN WAS ORIGINALLY
FORMED IN 2010, AND WE HAVE DONE AMAZING THINGS SINCE THEN.
I WILL JUST POINT OUT A FEW OF OUR HIGHLIGHTS.
SOME OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IS AN
INITIATIVE WHERE WE ARE TRAINING THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY TO LOOK FOR
INDICATORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING SPECIFICALLY ON INCOMING FLIGHTS
INTO THE UNITED STATES. ONE OF THE OTHER BIG
ACCOMPLISHMENTS WE HAVE DONE IS THAT THE TRAINING FOR HUMAN
TRAFFICKING IS MANDATORY FOR ALL DHS OPERATIONAL COMPONENTS, AND
BY OPERATIONAL, I'M REFERRING TO EMPLOYEES WHO WORK FOR ICE,
CUSTOMS AND BORDER'S PROTECTION, TSA.
THEY WORK FOR THE UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION
SERVICES, AND COAST GUARD. A COUPLE OTHER MAJOR
HIGHLIGHTS, EVERY NEW RECRUIT THAT GOES
THROUGH FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING, WHEN THEY ARE HIRED
RIGHT OFF THE AGENCY, THEY ARE GETTING MANDATORY TRAINING, AND
FINALLY, BACK IN 2017 AT THE END OF THE YEAR, CONGRESS AUTHORIZED
THE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE A PERMANENT OFFICE TO COMBAT
TRAFFICKING. THAT IS KNOWN AS THE OFFICE FOR
THE BLUE CAMPAIGN. IF YOU EVER GO TO THE BLUE
CAMPAIGN WEBPAGE, YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE A LONG LIST OF
MATERIALS AND ITEMS FOR YOU TO VIEW. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD POSTERS. THE
BEST WAY TO GET TO THAT SITE ARE TWO WAYS.
ONE, THE WAY I ALWAYS GO, I GOOGLE TWO WORDS, BUE CAMPAIGN.
THE SECOND TIME, YOU WANT TO TYPE IN THE URL DIRECTLY.
THOSE ARE THE TWO EASY WAYS TO GET OUR WEBSITE, AND I ENCOURAGE
YOU TO GO. WE HAVE RESOURCES FOR SO MANY
AREAS, INCLUDING STUDENTS, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON LABOR,
AND SEX TRAFFICKING, AS WELL. MOVING ON, WE ARE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, BUT WE ARE GOING TO SPEND MOST OF OUR
DAY TALKING ABOUT THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF NATIVE WOMEN IN
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. BEFORE I KICK IT OVER TO JERRY
TO LEAD THE DISCUSSION, I WANT TO JUST SET THE TONE FOR THIS
WEBINAR. MOST OF YOU ON THIS CALL
PROBABLY RECEIVED SOME SORT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS
TRAINING ALREADY. TO SIMPLIFY, WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT THAT ACT WHERE SOMEONE, A TRAFFICKER, COMPELS ANOTHER TO
WORK OR PROVIDE SERVICES OR TO ENGAGE IN AN ACT OF COMMERCIAL
SEX. WE ARE GOING TO EXPLAIN HOW MINORS ARE ALSO EXPLOITED AND
INDUCED INTO SEX TRAFFICKING, AS WELL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY WAS COMPELLING FOR US TODAY IS
REFERRING TO NATIVE WOMEN, WHAT WE KNOW BASED ON THE RESEARCH IS
THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING WILL BECOME ONE OF THE TOP THREE
CRIMES TARGETING NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN.
WE ARE RIGHT NOW AT THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.
WE KNOW THEY ARE HIGHLY VICTIMIZED IN SEXUAL ASSAULT,
HIGHLY VICTIMIZED IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND WE ARE SEEING
HUMAN TRAFFICKING COMING RIGHT BEHIND IT.
THAT IS WHY TODAY'S WEBINAR IS SO TIMELY.
I WANT TO SET THE TONE BY JUST GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE BORING
INFORMATION. THE ARK WHEN START WITH A FEW
DEFINITIONS. WE START WITH LABOR TRAFFICKING.
LABOR TRAFFICKING, I WANT TO TAKE A SECOND AND DIFFERENTIATE
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LABOR EXPLOITATION AND LABOR
TRAFFICKING.
ON THIS CALL, PROBABLY EVERYONE LISTENING TO MY VOICE HAS A JOB
WHERE THEY FEEL THEY ARE NOT VALUED VERY WELL.
THEY WORK LONG HOURS. THEY HAVE TERRIBLE CONDITIONS,
AND AT TIMES, WE HAVE SAID, I FEEL LIKE I AM BEING TRAFFICKED.
THE REALITY IS, PROBABLY NOT.
FORCED LABOR IS A FORM OF LABOR EXPLOITATION.
LABOR EXPLOITATION, LOOSELY DEFINED, IS WHERE ONE WORKS FOR
ANOTHER FOR LITTLE OR NO WAGES AND IN TERRIBLE CONDITIONS, BUT
THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT PERSON IS NOT COMPELLED TO STAY THERE.
WHERE WE CROSS THE LINE INTO LABOR TRAFFICKING IS WHEN THAT
CONDUCT TO COMPEL SOMEONE IS FOLLOWED WITH SOME SORT OF
FORCE, FRAUD, OR COERCION. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE FEDERAL
DEFINITION. I WON'T SPEND TOO MUCH TIME.
JUST KNOW IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP LINE, WHEN WE WANT TO PROSECUTE
A TRAFFICKER, WE ARE LOOKING TO KNOWINGLY FIND SOMEBODY WHO IS
PROVIDING OR OBTAINING LABOR OR IS BENEFITING FROM A VENTURE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE RECRUITER, THE OWNER, THE
TRAFFICKER, OR THE BUSINESS THAT EMPLOYS THAT TRAFFICKER OR THE
BUSINESS THAT BENEFITS, AND THEN WE HAVE TO PROVE ONE OF FOUR
WAYS THAT A TRAFFICKING OCCURRED.
THAT CAN BE THROUGH FORCE OR THROUGH THREATS OR SOME SORT OF
COERCIVE SCHEME. YOU NOTICE THE THIRD BOX SAYS
ABUSE. WHAT WE MEAN IS THAT IS TARGETING
FOLKS WHO MAY NOT HAVE LEGAL STATUS IN THE COUNTRY, AND
TRAFFICKER'S LOVE TO USE THAT AS A FORM OF COERCION, THREATENING
TO CALL ICE, THREATENING TO DEPORT THEM.
WHAT THESE TRAFFICKERS DON'T UNDERSTAND IS ICE HAS MANY
TOOLS, ONE OF WHICH IS TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM IMMIGRATION
RELIEF TO VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING.
THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD NOT BE DEPORTED.
THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO STAY IN THE COUNTRY AND ASSIST IN THE
INVESTIGATION.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I AM HAPPY TO TAKE THEM AT THE END OF
THE WEBINAR. THE MAJORITY OF VICTIMS
ARE FROM FOREIGN-BORN COUNTRIES. THE MAJORITY OF THE REASON WHY
IS THEY ENTERED THE U.S. ILLEGALLY AND THEY THOUGHT WERE
WORKING FOR LEGITIMATE EMPLOYERS, BUT THEY END UP
WORKING FOR TRAFFICKERS. A LOT OF THE WORK THEY ARE DOING
OUR JOBS THAT NOTORIOUSLY A LOT OF U.S. CITIZENS DON'T DO, SUCH
AS WORKING IN AGRICULTURAL FIELDS, WORKING IN THE
HOUSEKEEPING INDUSTRY, WORKING AS FACTORY WORKERS.
THAT IS WHAT WE SEE A LOT. MOVING ON TO THE SECOND TYPE OF
HUMAN TRAFFICKING, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SEX TRAFFICKING,
AND THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF THE WEBINAR TODAY.
THE REASON WHY IS THAT IS THE MOST PREVALENT FORM WE ARE
IDENTIFYING. THESE INVOLVE CHILDREN, MOST
OFTEN. THESE ARE THE ONES THAT JERRY IS
GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT, BUT TO PUT US ON THE SAME PAGE, WE
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS POINT. NOT ALL ACTS OF COMMERCIAL SEX
EQUAL SEX TRAFFICKING. IN OTHER WORDS, ONE MAY CHOOSE
ON THEIR OWN TO BE A PROSTITUTE, SMALL BUSINESS OWNER,
ENTREPRENEUR, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BUT IF THAT PERSON
IS SOMEHOW COMPELLED TO DO THAT OR FORCED TO DO IT, THEN IT
BECOMES SEX TRAFFICKING. WHEN A MINOR IS INVOLVED UNDER
FEDERAL LAW, WE DON'T HAVE TO PROVE ANY OF THESE ELEMENTS OF
FORCE OR FRAUD OR COERCION. ALL WE HAVE TO PROVE IS THAT IT
WAS A MINOR WHO
WAS UNDER 18 AND SOMEHOW INDUCED INTO
TRAFFICKING. SIMPLY PUT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
NOT ALL ASK OF COMMERCIAL SEX EQUAL SEX TRAFFICKING, BUT ALL
ASK OF SEX TRAFFICKING ARE COMMERCIAL SEX.
LOOKING AT THE LEGAL DEFINITION IS SOMEWHAT MORE CUMBERSOME.
I'VE TRIED TO SIMPLIFY IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
WE HAVE THE LEGAL MEANS UNDER
FEDERAL LAW, SIMILAR TO STATE LAWS, THAT WE CAN GO AFTER
TRAFFICKERS WHO IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM RECRUIT AN
INDIVIDUAL, HOUSE AN INDIVIDUAL, TRANSPORT AN INDIVIDUAL, OR
UNDER NEW FEDERAL LAWS, WE CAN GO AFTER THE BUYERS OF SEX.
OR WE CAN GO AFTER A PERSON OR
AN ENTITY THAT IS SOMEHOW BENEFITING FROM THAT VENTURE.
HOW WOULD THAT MANIFEST ITSELF? EASY.
IN ALABAMA WHERE THERE WAS A HOTEL, THE HANDYMAN OF THE
HOTEL KEPT TELLING THE OWNER ROOMS
THAT WERE CONSTANTLY UNDER REPAIR.
THE QUESTION BECOMES, DID THE OWNERS KNOW THAT WAS GOING ON?
THE BEST WAY TO PROVE IT WAS OWNERS WERE RECEIVING SOME SORT
OF INCOME.
THAT IS HOW WE START, AND THEN THE NEXT LINES ARE WHAT I JUST
SAID. THE LEFT SIDE, WE EITHER PROVE
IT THROUGH MEANS OF FORCE, FRAUD, OR COERCION, OR WITH A
MINOR. WE HAVE TO SOMEHOW SHOW THAT
THE TRAFFICKING SOMEHOW AFFECTED INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
THE EASIEST WAY TO DO THAT
IS IF ANYONE USED THE INTERNET TO SET
UP A TRANSACTION OR USED A PHONE OR OTHER SEX PARAPHERNALIA USED
FROM ANOTHER STATE. EVEN IN THOSE PARTICULAR CASES
WHERE THE INTERNET AND THE PHONE WAS ALL INTRASTATE, COURTS HAVE
FOUND THAT INTRASTATE IS NOT A MEANS TO VIOLATE THE LAW.
NOW THAT WE HAVE A GOOD FRAMEWORK OF WHAT TRAFFICKING
IS, I'M GOING TO REFER OVER TO JERRY, OUR SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERT, AND SHE IS GOING TO START EXPLAINING A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HERSELF, AND SHE IS GOING TO WALK US THROUGH SEX
TRAFFICKING IN INDIAN COUNTRY. JERI: THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MY NAME IS JERI MOOMAW, AND ON THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
INNOVATIONS HUMAN TRAFFICKING COLLABORATIVE THAT IS BASED IN
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON. I AM AN INDIGENOUS WOMAN, AND I
HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND EXPLOITATION AND TRAFFICKING FOR
THE PAST 15 YEARS. I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN SOCIAL
WORK AND WORKED DIRECTLY WITH VICTIMS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
IT'S VERY COMPLEX. WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT SEX
TRAFFICKING IN INDIAN COUNTRY, OFTEN, THERE IS A COMMON
MISCONCEPTION THAT TRAFFICKING OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ONLY
HAPPENS ON RESERVATIONS, BUT
ACCORDING TO A 2017 REPORT FROM THE OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH,
ONLY 22% OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND ALASKAN NATIVES ACTUALLY LIVE ON
RESERVATIONS OR TRUST LANDS.
APPROXIMATELY 60% OF NATIVE PEOPLE LIVE OFF THE RESERVATION,
WHETHER IT BE IN METROPOLITAN OR URBAN AREAS, BUT THEY ARE NOT
ACTUALLY ON THE RESERVATION. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T
GO BACK, BUT THAT IS THE STATISTIC.
REALLY, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SEX TRAFFICKING IN INDIAN
COUNTRY, IT IS TWO SEPARATE IS SUES. IT REALLY IS, AND IT LOOKS
REALLY DIFFERENT. ON RESERVATIONS, WHAT WE SEE
HIS TRAFFICKING IN THE CASINOS AND
HOTELS. A LOT OF THE TIMES, THE PEOPLE
BEING TRAFFICKED IN THE CASINOS AND HOTELS ARE NON-NATIVE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CAUSES ISSUES AND PROBLEMS, AND THE
TRIBES ARE WORKING ON THAT TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT TO THOSE
NON-NATIVES WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS OUTSIDE OF THE
RESERVATION. TIMES ARE CHANGING. ANYBODY WHO
IS BEING TRAFFICKED, WHETHER THEY ARE NATIVE OR NOT,
WILL BE CONNECTED WITH SERVICES. WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
TRAFFICKING ON RESERVATIONS, WE NEED TO ALSO LOOK AT TRUCK
STOPS. ONE MODALITY IS RESIDENTIAL
BROTHELS. THE SAD PART ABOUT IT IS THE
VAST MAJORITY OF TRAFFICKING ON THE RESERVATION IS FAMILIAL TRAF
FICKING, INDIVIDUALS BEING TRADED OR SOLD FOR SOMETHING OF
VALUE BY SOMEBODY THEY ARE RELATED TO.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OFF RESERVATION
EXPLOITATION OF NATIVE PEOPLE, IT LOOKS DIFFERENT.
IT COULD BE ONLINE, THROUGH INTERNET ADS, STREET-BASED
PROSTITUTION. IT COULD ALSO BE IN METROPOLITAN
AREAS SUCH AS LAS VEGAS AND THROUGH THE CASINOS THERE.
ONE THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IS OFF-RESERVATION TRAFFICKING
IS VERY MOBILE. THEY MOVE FROM TOWN TO TOWN.
THIS IS KNOWN AS A CIRCUIT. THERE ARE CIRCUITS ALL THE WAY
UP AND DOWN THE WEST COAST, THE EAST COAST.
I KNOW THAT THE POLARIS PROJECT
HAS A HEATSINK MAP OF WHERE CALLS COME IN, AND WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THAT, HIGH DENSITY AREAS ARE THE CIRCUITS THAT THESE PEOPLE
RUN VICTIMS ON.
I REALLY WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT, HOW DO I KNOW THIS?
HOW AM I A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT? I CAN TELL YOU.
I HAVE FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE. I AM A SURVIVOR OF TRAFFICKING,
AND I KNOW THIS ALL TOO WELL. I WAS TRAFFICKED FROM THE TIME I
WAS 13 UNTIL 19, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT RECEIVE
THE SUPPORT OF SERVICES AT THAT TIME.
FROM THE TRAUMA THAT I RECEIVED , I FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS FOR
THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE. AFTER THE SUDDEN DEATH OF MY
MOTHER, I FOUND MYSELF IN A TRUE POSITION OF VULNERABILITY, AND I
WAS LURED AWAY FROM MY HOME BY THE PROMISE OF BEING LOVED AND
HAVING A BETTER LIFE.
UNFORTUNATELY, MY STORY IS A COMMON STORY FOR NATIVE WOMEN
AND GIRLS.
BUT THIS IS NOTHING NEW. THE EXPLOITATION OF NATIVE
PEOPLE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED
SINCE THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FROM
THE EUROPEAN SETTLERS. THIS HISTORY OF GENOCIDE HAS A
LASTING EFFECT THAT IS DEEPLY CONNECTED TO THE CURRENT ISSUES
WITHIN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. THIS IS KNOWN AS SOUL WOUNDS,
GENERATIONAL TRAUMA. THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES
CONDUCTED ON HOLOCAUST VICTIMS
AND ALSO ON NATIVE AMERICANS, AND THE GENOCIDE IS ACTUALLY
DEEPLY INGRAINED IN OUR DNA. THIS VASTLY INCREASED
VULNERABILITY. IT CAN CAUSE DEPRESSION, ANGER,
ISOLATION, VIOLENCE, HIGH SUICIDE RATES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE
AS A FORM OF SELF MEDICATION,
ANXIETY, AND THIS INCREASES THE RISK
OF BEING A VICTIM FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE STARTLING STATISTICS AND TAKE
INTO MIND THAT NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE MAKE UP 2% OF THE
POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES. WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE AND
DISPROPORTIONATE STATISTICS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, THE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RATE IS 50 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE. THIS IS HEARTBREAKING TO ME, AND
THIS IS A STUDY THAT WAS DONE
FOR NATIVE WOMEN FROM MINNEAPOLIS, SEATTLE, AND
PORTLAND. A 40% AVERAGE OF THE WOMEN
INVOLVED IN THE COMMERCIAL SEX INDUSTRY, IDENTIFIED AS
AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKAN NATIVE OR
FIRST NATION. WE MAKE UP 2% OF THE POPULATION.
WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A
SUBJECT THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT,
THIS IS THE SUBJECT. EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED,
AND WE NEED TO PUT PROTECTIVE FACTORS AROUND PROTECTING
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE. WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK BACK AT,
HOW DID WE BECOME SO VULNERABLE? WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT POLY
VICTIMIZATION. THERE IS A TREND BETWEEN EARLY
ABUSE AND REPEATED TRAUMA THROUGHOUT LIFE.
THIS INCREASES FOLDER ABILITY TO TRAFFICKING -- A VULNERABILITY
TO TRAFFICKING. TRAUMATIC EVENTS INCLUDE SEXUAL
VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, RAPE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND MOST
PEOPLE, CLIENTS I HAVE WORKED WITH OVER THE YEARS, HAVE A
HISTORY OF POLYVICTIMIZATION.
IT'S AN INHERENT LINK TO
VULNERABILITIES IN TRAFFICKING.
WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE RISK FACTORS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOT
ONLY LOOK AT THE CHILDHOOD PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE, BUT
WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT THE LINK BETWEEN THE INDIAN HEALTH
WELFARE ACT, THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AND THE LINK AROUND
POVERTY. SOME RESERVATIONS HAVE UP TO 90% UNEMPLOYMENT.
OFTEN NO RUNNING WATER. WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE
POVERTY IN INDIAN COUNTRY,
IT IS EQUAL TO WHAT YOU MAY FIND IN A
THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. REALLY, WITH MY SITUATION, WHEN
MY MOM PASSED AWAY, I FOUND MYSELF WITH A LACK OF A STABLE
SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND THIS IS
PREDOMINANT IN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS.
TRAFFICKERS ARE MASTER MANIPULATORS IN FINDING THESE
INDIVIDUALS, AND IT'S A COMMON LINK.
WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE POLYVICTIMIZATION AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE IN VULNERABLE PEOPLE. OFTENTIMES, USE IS
SELF-MEDICATION. IT'S BECAUSE THE TRAUMA THEY
HAVE RECEIVED IN THE PAST HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED,
AND THEY ARE SELF-MEDICATING TO DISASSOCIATE.
ANOTHER FACTOR IS LIVING NEAR CASINOS.
ALSO, LIVING NEAR TO RESUME, HUNTING, FISHING -- I KNOW
SEVERAL RESERVATIONS THAT OPEN UP THEIR LAND AROUND HUNTING AND
FISHING TIME, AND ANYTIME THAT
IT WOULD BRING PEOPLE WHO DO NOT BELONG ON THE RESERVATION TO THE
RESERVATION THAT COULD BE POTENTIALLY SEX BUYERS, THIS
INCREASES VULNERABILITY AND PUTS THE AREA AT RISK.
WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN INDIAN COUNTRY IF
WE DO NOT TALK ABOUT THE LINK BETWEEN SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND THE
OIL BOOM. IN NORTH DAKOTA, TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF MEN FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE HAVE MOVED TO THE
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA TO LIVE IN CAMPS THAT THE OIL COMPANIES
HAVE SET UP. THESE CAMPS ARE FILLED WITH
WORKERS WHO HAVE BEEN SHIFTED FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
WHILE A MAJORITY OF THEM ARE JUST THERE TO WORK, THERE IS
ALSO A VERY DANGEROUS CRIMINAL ELEMENT THAT GOES UNCHECKED IN
AND AROUND THESE CAMPS. THEY HAVE FOUND ORGANIZED GANG
CRIMES , RAPES, KIDNAPPINGS,
SEX TRAFFICKING, AND IN NORTH DAKOTA, THE VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN RATE HAS RAISED OVER 400%. VERY ALARMING.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO PAINT A PICTURE TO YOU OF STRANGER
DANGER, THAT TRAFFICKERS ARE PEOPLE THAT INDIVIDUALS DON'T
KNOW. SADLY, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
A TRAFFICKER AND VICTIM CAN BE ANOTHER BARRIER TO
IDENTIFICATION. THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE
TRAFFICKER AND VICTIM CAN VARY. THERE WAS A STUDY
IN 2013 OUT OF COVENANT HOUSE, AND THE FINDINGS
WERE SHOCKING. 36% IS IMMEDIATE FAMILY.
I KNOW EARLIER I TALKED ABOUT HOW THE MODALITY OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING ON INDIAN COUNTRY IS OFTEN FAMILIAL.
IF THIS REPORT WAS OUT OF INDIAN COUNTRY, I BELIEVE THAT
IMMEDIATE FAMILY WOULD BE EVEN HIGHER.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHILE THE TERM "BOYFRIEND" CAN
MEAN ROMANTIC PARTNER, IT IS ALSO A EUPHEMISM USED BY THE
TRAFFICKER. DON'T DISCOUNT SOMEONE AS BEING
A POTENTIAL VICTIM BECAUSE THEY APPEAR TO BE PRESENTING WITH A
RELATIVE OR ROMANTIC PARTNER. THIS STUDY HAS HELPED TO DEBUNK
THAT THE TRAFFICKERS ARE MOST OFTEN STRANGERS TO THE VICTIM.
SCOTT IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN INDIAN
COUNTRY THAT WE SEE. SCOTT: WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
PROSECUTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING ON TRIBAL LANDS, WE HAVE NOT BEEN
SUCCESSFUL AS A COUNTRY. I COULD ACCOUNT ON ONE HAND
SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTIONS THAT OCCURRED FROM TRIBAL LAND.
ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS FROM NORTH DAKOTA, AND THE REASON WHY
IS THE SAME ISSUES WE FACE IN ISSUES RELATED TO DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE. MOST OF IT IS A JURISDICTIONAL
ISSUE. SOME TRIBES AND SOME STATES
BELONG TO PUBLIC LAW 280.
SOME TRIBES CAN ONLY TRESPASS A TRAFFICKER OFF THEIR LAND.
WE'VE HAD SITUATIONS WHERE OFFICERS FROM TRIBAL POLICE AND
STATE AND LOCAL POLICE ARE CONFUSED AS TO WHO HAS
JURISDICTION. WE KNOW IF IT GOES FORWARD AND
IT OCCURRED ON TRIBAL LAND, THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WOULD
TAKE IT, AND IT MEANS THE CASE WOULD HAVE TO GO FEDERALLY.
IF WE CAN PROSECUTE IT ON STATE OR LOCAL AREAS, DO WE HAVE A
ROBUST PROSECUTION? THE VICTIM'S FIRST INVESTIGATED
THROUGH TRIBAL POLICE, AND THEY
SEND THAT INVESTIGATION TO STATE POLICE.
YOU CAN IMAGINE, OVER AND OVER, THIS VICTIM IS BEING
RE-VICTIMIZED BY THE SYSTEM BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT WHO TAKES THE CASE. WITHOUT A VICTIM ON BOARD, IT'S
VERY DIFFICULT TO PROSECUTE. WE TRIED TO ILLUSTRATE THIS
ISSUE, AND THE BLUE CAMPAIGN WILL SOON BE HOSTING A VIDEO
THAT SHOWS THIS ON OUR WEBSITE. WE JUST FINISHED EDITING THIS
VIDEO. IT SPECIFICALLY FOCUSES ON HUMAN
TRAFFICKING ON TRIBAL LANDS AND WHY TRAFFICKERS TARGET NATIVE
WOMEN. MY UNDERSTANDING IS WITHIN THE
NEXT 2-4 WEEKS, IT WILL BE POSTED ON THE BLUE CAMPAIGN
WEBSITE IF ANY OF YOU WANT TO RETURN TO THE WEBSITE.
IT'S ONLY ABOUT A FIVE-MINUTE CLIP. JERI: THANK YOU, SCOTT.
I THINK IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT THE MINDSET
AROUND CRIMES THAT HAPPEN ON RESERVATIONS, A LOT OF TIMES,
THERE HAS BEEN A SENSE OF APATHY. WHY REPORT SOMETHING?
NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY.
WE NEED TO BREAK THAT CYCLE AND WORK COLLECTIVELY TO GET THESE
CASES, TO GET THE U.S. ATTORNEY TO PICK THEM UP SO CASES CAN BE
PROSECUTED, SO PEOPLE WHO ARE ON RESERVATIONS CAN HAVE THAT SENSE
OF SECURITY. IT'S COMMON.
I HEAR IT OVER AND OVER. WHY REPORT?
NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THE SAD PART ABOUT IT IS
TRAFFICKERS KNOW THIS, TOO. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU BRIEFLY
ABOUT SOME OF THE TACTICS THAT TRAFFICKERS USE.
NUMBER ONE IS PSYCHOLOGICAL MANIPULATION.
THEY USED NUMEROUS TACTICS TO REALLY MANIPULATE THEIR
VICTIMS. I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF. I WAS CONVINCED THAT HE LOVED ME
AND THAT THIS WAS ONLY GOING TO HAPPEN FOR A LITTLE TIME PERIOD,
AND THEN WE WERE GOING TO GO ON AND HAVE THIS HAPPY LIFE, UNTIL
THE FIRST TIME THAT I TOLD HIM NO, AND THAT COMPLETELY CHANGED
THINGS. THEN I REALIZED THAT I WAS
TRAPPED. THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL
MANIPULATION, THAT GROOMING, ALL THE TACTICS
THEY USE, AND ANOTHER ONE IS REPUTATIONAL HARM
-- WE SEE THAT A LOT WITH SEXTING.
SOMEBODY CONVINCES SOMEBODY TO SEND THEM A NUDE PICTURE.
THEY ARE "IN A RELATIONSHIP," AND THEN THEY HAVE THAT PICTURE
AND THEY THREATENED TO TAKE IT AND SHOW IT TO THE SCHOOL, THE
CHURCH, THEIR PARENTS. THEY CAN REALLY USE THAT AS A
FORM OF COERCION.
OR, I'M JUST GOING TO TELL EVERYBODY YOU ARE A PROSTITUTE.
I'M GOING TO TELL EVERYBODY WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING.
THAT IS VERY COMMON. ANOTHER ONE IS ABUSIVE SYSTEMS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ABUSIVE SYSTEMS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
I HAVE HEARD FROM SURVIVORS AND CLIENTS I HAVE WORKED WITH OVER
AND OVER. WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
FOREIGN NATIONALS, THE THREAT OF DEPORTATION -- YOU ARE A
CRIMINAL, YOU WILL BE DEPORTED BECAUSE YOU ARE INVOLVED IN
PROSTITUTION. EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE BEING
TRAFFICKED, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE LAW, SO THAT
COERCIVE TACTIC IS VERY STRONG.
OFTENTIMES, ESPECIALLY HAVING THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE,
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN PROSTITUTION THAT WERE TRAFFICKED WERE
CRIMINALIZED. OFTENTIMES, THEY WOULD BE ON
PROBATION OR SOME TYPE OF SUPERVISION.
TRAFFICKERS USE THAT. TRAFFICKERS, YOU ARE ON
PROBATION. I AM GOING TO GO TO YOUR
PROBATION OFFICER. I'M GOING TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT
YOU ARE DOING, AND THEN YOU WILL GO BACK TO JAIL.
THEN THEY WILL USE CHILDREN.
THEY WILL USE WHAT THEY TURNED THE VICTIM INTO AGAINST THEM.
I'LL MAKE SURE BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING YOUR CHILD WILL GO
TO CPS.
YOU WON'T HAVE YOUR CHILD ANYMORE.
THESE ARE STRONG, COERCIVE TACTICS THAT KEEP PEOPLE BONDED
TO THEIR ABUSERS.
IT COULD BE YELLING, SCREAMING, BEATING SOMEONE ELSE IN FRONT OF
THEM, BECAUSE OFTEN TRAFFICKERS HAVE MULTIPLE VICTIMS, AND THAT
SITUATION COULD BE ALL IT WOULD TAKE TO KEEP THE REST OF THEM
IN LINE. THEN THEY CAN USE THAT STORY.
HEY, YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED
TO SO AND SO. YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST
PERSON WHO CROSSED ME. SOMETIMES, THAT IS ENOUGH, THAT
SCARE TACTIC, AND THEN A THIRD ONE -- THIS IS A VERY COMMON
MODALITY -- OFTEN, TRAFFICKERS TARGET INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE
BEEN EXPERIENCING DRUGS AS A FORM OF SELF-MEDICATION.
I KNOW WITH MY TRAFFICKER HE USED NARCOTIC PAIN PILLS.
WHEN YOU HAVE THAT CHEMICAL RESTRAINT, IT IS A VERY, VERY
CONDUCIVE BONDAGE TO THE TRAFFICKER. THIS IS VERY COMMON.
IT'S COMMON IN INDIAN COUNTRY, AS WELL.
TRUTHFULLY, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE
IMPACT OF TRAUMA. SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS SUFFER
FROM SOME OF THE MOST SEVERE AND COMPLEX PHYSICAL,
EMOTIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL DAMAGE OF ANY WOUNDED
POPULATION. UNDERSTANDING TRAUMA AND HOW IT
CAN AFFECT ONE'S CAPACITY TO TRUST OTHERS, TRAFFICKERS
INGRAIN INTO VICTIMS THAT YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO TRUST PEOPLE AND
AUTHORITY. THEY ARE AGAINST YOU. YOU WILL GO TO JAIL.
ALL OF THOSE SEEDS THAT ARE PLANTED MAKE IT VERY HARD FOR
VICTIMS TO TRUST PEOPLE. THAT IS WHY YOU AREN'T GOING TO
SEE VICTIMS RUNNING DOWN THE STREET, WAVING THEIR HANDS
SAYING, HELP ME, HELP ME. THAT MAKES IT SO MUCH HARDER TO
REACH OUT FOR HELP. ANOTHER THING IS TO TRUST
OURSELVES, TO BE ABLE TO REALLY
SEE THAT AS A PERSON, WE ARE
DESERVING AND WORTHWHILE. BEING DAMAGED AND COMING FROM
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, YOUR SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-WORTH,
THAT IS DEEPLY DAMAGED BY THE TRAFFICKING EXPERIENCE, NOT ONLY
FROM THE TRAFFICKER, BUT ALSO FROM THE BUYERS.
IT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO TRUST OURSELVES.
THAT AFFECTS HOW WE SOLVE PROBLEMS, EXERCISE
JUDGMENT, AND PROCESS INFORMATION.
ALSO, WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDST
OF COMPLEX TRAUMA, THAT IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH POST-TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER.
TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS HAVE A HIGHER RATE OF POST-TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER THAN RETURNING COMBAT VICTIMS.
REALLY, THAT IS HARD TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND TO THOUGHTFULLY
PLAN. ALSO, TO MANAGE
INTERNAL STATES, TO BE ABLE TO STAY PRESENT AND
CONNECTED.
ADVOCACY. WHY IS ADVOCACY IMPORTANT?
AS LAW ENFORCEMENT, I AM NOT ASKING YOU TO PUT ON YOUR SOCIAL
WORKER HAD. I'M ASKING YOU TO LOOK AT
VICTIMS AS VICTIMS WITH A SENSE OF EMPATHY.
THAT IS IMPORTANT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO
REALLY TAKE THAT MIND SHIFT OF,
THEY ARE CRIMINALS, AND CONSIDER THEY ARE VICTIMS.
I KNOW THERE IS A MOVEMENT
NATIONALLY TO NOT ARREST THE WOMEN, BUT TO CONNECTED THEM
WITH SERVICES AND GO AFTER THE BUYERS AND THE TRAFFICKERS.
IF YOU REMOVE A VICTIM FROM A
TRAFFICKER AND PUT THEM IN JAIL, THEY DON'T RECEIVE THE
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. MORE THAN LIKELY, THEY ARE GOING
TO RETURN TO THAT TRAFFICKER. IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONNECT THEM
TO SERVICES.
THERE IS NO WRONG DOOR. THERE IS NOT.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING RESPECTFUL
OF WHERE THE WOMEN ARE IN THEIR LIVES, AND TO USE A
TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH WHEN
YOU INTERACT WITH THEM. TRUTHFULLY, YOU MAY HAVE ONLY
ONE CHANCE TO GAIN TRUST AND HAVE A COOPERATIVE VICTIM IN
CASES TO BRING TRAFFICKERS TO JUSTICE.
THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
IT'S ABOUT A SUSTAINED VICTIMS AND GETTING HUMAN TRAFFICKERS
OFF THE STREET. INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN
TRAFFICKED EXPERIENCE AN EXTRA
BURDEN OF SHAME AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION.
YOU REALLY WANT TO BE CAREFUL THE WAY YOU INTERVIEW THEM AND
THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ASK.
REALLY WORKING WITH LEGAL ADVOCATES AND OTHER ADVOCATES IS
IMPORTANT THROUGHOUT ANTIHUMAN TRAFFICKING CASE.
THERE IS REALLY NO WRONG DOOR FOR TRAFFICKING VICTIMS TO COME
FORWARD. SCOTT: A LOT OF YOU ON THIS
WEBINAR -- WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION -- AT THIS POINT, YOU
MIGHT BE THINKING, WHAT CAN I DO?
THE ONE THING IS, YOU ARE HERE NOW.
YOU ARE LISTENING TO JERI ADND
ME. IN JANUARY OF EVERY YEAR, ONE
DAY IN JANUARY THAT STANDS FOR THE MONTH OF THAT SYMBOLIZES
NATIONAL ANTI-SLAVERY AND ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING
AWARENESS, ONE DAY IN JANUARY WE HAVE WEAR BLUE DAY TO SHOW THAT
WE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THIS LAST
YEAR, ONE OF OUR LOCAL NEWS STATIONS AND THE
WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA, ALL OF THEIR ANCHORS WORE BLUE THE
ENTIRE DAY, NOT JUST ONE TELECAST.
SEVERAL COUNTIES HAVE FORMED HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE IS.
WE PUT IN THE COOK COUNTY HUMAN
TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE. IT'S NOT JUST AN INVESTIGATION
TASK FORCE.
THERE USED TO BRING TOGETHER NGOS, MEDICAL TEAMS, EVERYONE
THAT A VICTIM MAY ENCOUNTER, AND THIS ALL BEGINS BY SIMPLY
BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
JERI, I KNOW YOU ARE A HUGE FAN OF THE VALUE OF COLLABORATION.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE US DOWN THAT PATH NEXT?
JERI: OF COURSE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ENTIRE PICTURE, LAW-ENFORCEMENT ALONE
WILL NOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES ALONE
CANNOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER IN A
COLLECTIVE IMPACT MODEL AND BRAINSTORM AND HAVE WORKGROUPS
WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY ON HOW TO REALLY COMBAT THIS.
WE ARE COLLABORATING. THE VICTIM IS AT THE CENTER OF
IT, AND WE ARE TRYING TO COME UP WITH SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT AND TO
STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PROTECT PEOPLE FROM FUTURE
VICTIMIZATION. I AM ALL ABOUT COLLABORATING.
IT IS SO IMPORTANT. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US HOLDS A
VALUABLE PIECE TO THE PUZZLE.
YOU MIGHT ASK, OK, WHY COLLABORATE?
TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, TRIBAL COALITIONS, TRIBAL SOCIAL
SERVICES, ORGANIZATIONS, STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE NEED TO
BE WORKING EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER TO COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN
INDIAN COUNTRY. YOU MIGHT ASK WHY.
THIS IS JUST A SHORT LIST OF REASONS.
ONE, LEVERAGE RESOURCES. WE HAVE COLLABORATION, AND WE
ARE ABLE TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE IN GRANT
WRITING, GETTING FUNDING, AND GETTING IT TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO
BE. ALSO, A MORE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE
TO INCIDENTS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
YOU CAN HAVE LAW-ENFORCEMENT WITH AN ADVOCATE AND THEN THE
RESOURCES SUCH AS HOUSING AND DETOX LINED UP TO BE ABLE TO
SUPPORT THESE VICTIMS. GREATER AGENCY BUY-IN AND SU
PPORT FOR ANTITRAFFICKING EFFORTS.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE
IN CHARGE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE AND HOW THIS IS
RELEVANT TO THEIR COMMUNITY. I RECENTLY DID A THREE-DAY
TRAINING IN WASHINGTON STATE WITH A TRIBE, AND I WAS OUT
THERE YESTERDAY WORKING WITH SOME OF THE CASINO STAFF BECAUSE
THEY ARE LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL TRAINING ON THIS INITIATIVE.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE CASINO SECURITY SAID THAT WHEN SHE WAS
BRINGING HER MANAGEMENT OVER, THEY ALL WENT IN ONE VAN, AND
THEY WERE GRUMBLING, WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH US?
SHE SAID, AFTER THE FIRST DAY, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM WAS
BLOWN AWAY AT HOW RELEVANT, HOW MUCH IT AFFECTS THEM, AND NOW
THEY ARE CALLED TO ACTION. THEY ARE WRITING LAW AND ORDER
CODES. THEY WANT TO PUT POLICIES IN THE
CASINO. HONESTLY, YOU CAN BE A FIRESTARTER.
SURE THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW IMPORTANT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS
AND HOW RELEVANT IT IS, AND CHANGE THE PERCEPTION TO GET
THAT AGENCY BUY-IN AND SUPPORT.
ALSO, JOINT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, TO BE ABLE TO
COLLABORATE WITH SOCIAL SERVICES FROM SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES,
TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, EVEN SEVERAL TRIBES COMING TOGETHER.
ALSO, PROMOTE A UNIFIED MESSAGE
ON WHAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS IN TRIBAL COMMUNITIES. A LOT
OF TIMES, PEOPLE GET HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN SMUGGLING
CONFUSED. THOSE ARE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES.
IT'S NOT THE STEREOTYPICAL
CHAINED TO A WALL, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO COLLABORATE TO PROMOTE A UNIFIED MESSAGE.
SCOTT: AFTER WE CONCLUDE TODAY, WE WANT TO GIVE YOU OUR CONTACT
INFORMATION SHOULD YOU WISH TO REACH OUT DIRECTLY TO EITHER
JERI OR MYSELF. IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION
FROM THE HOMELAND SECURITY BLUE CAMPAIGN, IF YOU WANT TO
CONTACT JERI: DIRECTLY, YOU CAN SEE HER
EMAIL. IF YOU WANT TO REACH ME, IST IS
THAT EMAIL. IF YOU WANT TO SEND IN EMAIL
DIRECTLY TO THE BLUE CAMPAIGN INBOX --
ALSO, WE HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE.
AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ALL IF YOU HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS. PLEASE TYPE THEM IN THE CHAT
BOX.
THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT INCREASING THE AUTHORITY OF
TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COURTS TO PROSECUTE CRIME.
THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE WE HAVE VERY AGGRESSIVE FEDERAL LAWS THAT
COMBAT TRAFFICKING. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THE LAW
THAT IS THE ISSUE OR THE ENFORCEMENT.
I BELIEVE THE NAVAJO NATION IS THE FIRST TRIBAL NATION TO HAVE
ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING LAWS, BUT REMEMBER, TRIBES ARE SOVEREIGN
NATIONS. IT IS UP TO THAT SOVEREIGN
JURISDICTION TO PASS THEIR OWN LAWS.
I KNOW YOU WORK WITH TRIBES DIRECTLY.
DO YOU WORK WITH THEM ON LEGISLATION?
>> YES, I DO.
I HELPED TO DRAFT TRIBAL LAW AND ORDER CODES, AND ALSO TO CREATE
CUSTOM TRAINING FOR DIFFERENT TRIBES, AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE FEDERAL LEGISLATION. WE HAVE STATE LEGISLATION.
BUT HAVING TRIBAL LAW AND ORDER CODES IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND
ALSO HAVING EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE
SURROUNDING COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I KNOW WITH THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT, THERE HAVE BEEN
SEVERAL TEST SITES WITH TRIBES AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND IN A
RECENT REPORT, IT CAME BACK ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VAWA.
THE OUTCOME IS GREAT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO COLLABORATE
WITH STATE, FEDERAL, AND TRIBAL. AS TRIBES, WE AREN'T ABLE TO
PROSECUTE MAJOR CRIMES, AND TRAFFICKING IS A MAJOR FELONY.
IT REALLY TAKES THAT COLLABORATION WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT.
SCOTT: GREAT. ANOTHER MAIN QUESTION THAT I GET
ASKED A LOT HAS TO DO WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING.
WHAT TRAINING IS AVAILABLE? MANY STATES HAVE STATEWIDE HUMAN
TRAFFICKING AWARENESS TRAINING. I CAN LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE
BLUE CAMPAIGN HAS RESOURCES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, THAT WE WORK
CLOSELY WITH OUR LEAD INVESTIGATORS AT ICE HOMELAND
SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS,
FOCUSING ON PROACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS, IMMIGRATION
RELIEF THAT HOMELAND SECURITY CAN PROVIDE, INTERVIEWING
VICTIMS. WE DO HAVE A WIDE ARRAY OF
TRAINING. WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE LAW-ENFORCEMENT TO REACH OUT TO
THEIR LOCAL ICE HSI OFFICE TO
REQUEST THAT TRAINING, AND WE TRY TO ACCOMMODATE THESE
REQUESTS AS THEY COME IN.
GREAT QUESTION -- HOW ARE YOU PROSECUTING TRIBAL MEMBERS
TRAFFICKING ON NON-TRIBAL LANDS? THAT INDIVIDUAL WOULD FALL UNDER
THE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. HE OR SHE
WOULD BE PROSECUTED AS A TRAFFICKER WHERE THE
TRAFFICKING OCCURRED.
I WAS SAYING EARLIER, THERE ARE A FEW CASES WHERE THE
TRAFFICKING WAS ACTUALLY PROSECUTED AND OCCURRED ON
TRIBAL LAND. THE ACTS OF THE TRAFFICKING
CONDUCT OCCURRED OFF OF LAND, AND THAT DOES NOT STOP THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM PROSECUTING THOSE OFFENDERS.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE MAJORITY OF SURVIVORS YOU WORKED WITH
HAVE BEEN TRAFFICKED BOTH ON AND OFF LAND, BUT THEIR TRAFFICKERS
ARE PROBABLY PROSECUTED BY THE ACTS OFF OF TRIBAL LAND.
JERI: THAT IS CORRECT. YESTERDAY, WHEN I WAS MEETING
WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE TRIBE, HE EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION
THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD A SLAMDUNK CASE, TURNED IT OVER TO
THE U.S. ATTORNEY, AND IT WASN'T PROSECUTED.
THE THING ABOUT IT IS, NOW THAT
THAT PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED,
TRIBES AND STATE AND COUNTY AND FEDERAL JURISDICTIONS
ARE REALLY WORKING TOGETHER TO PUT A MORE COHESIVE PACKAGE
TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN DEBUNK THAT MYTH THAT TRAFFICKERS
BELIEVE YOU CAN DO ALMOST ANYTHING ON TRIBAL LAND.
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. HAVING A
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, DOING THIS WORK FOR OVER 15
YEARS, AND THEN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, WE ARE LIKE NIGHT
AND DAY. WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS. I FIND THAT VERY ENCOURAGING.
I AM HONORED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK.
I KNOW THAT SCOTT SHARED OUR EMAILS UP THERE.
IF YOU CAN THINK OF ANYTHING LATER, PLEASE SHOOT OFF ONE OF
US AND EMAIL. WE ARE HERE TO HELP AND ASSIST
YOU. SCOTT: AT THIS POINT, I
ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO CONTINUE ASKING US QUESTIONS.
YOU HAVE OUR EMAIL ADDRESS. THERE IS A SHORT SURVEY WE WOULD
LIKE YOU TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS AND FILL OUT.
ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY,
OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH THE D.C. GROUP -- I WILL LET YOU
SAY GOODBYE IN A MOMENT -- I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR
ATTENTION TODAY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, AND I WILL KICK IT BACK TO YOU.
JERI: THANK YOU. I'M JUST HONORED TO BE HERE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK THESE TYPES OF WEBINARS
ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
WE WILL KEEP YOU GUYS ON THE LIST, LET YOU KNOW WHEN OTHER
ONES ARE. IF YOU FOUND VALUE IN THIS,
PLEASE LET OTHER PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT OUR FUTURE WEBINARS.
YOU ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, AND WE REALLY
WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU AND HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING, AND WE
WANT YOU GUYS TO HAVE A WONDERFUL REST OF THE DAY.
SCOTT: THANK YOU ALL. HAVE A GOOD ONE.