Human Trafficking Airports@Work ACI-NA Public Safety & Security Committee Conference April 19, 2016
A Global Problem In Your Backyard Victims are trafficked into the sex trade Victims are trafficked into forced labor Most victims are women and children Human trafficking is second in illegal revenue only to the drug trade Illicit pathways facilitate the movement of victims worldwide
What is Trafficking? The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age. NOTE: Immigration status or citizenship is not an element of human trafficking.
Smuggling vs. Trafficking Smuggling Trafficking Crime against a border Crime against a person Transportation based Exploitation based Requires border crossing Voluntary No border crossing required Involuntary
Trafficking Indicators Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship? Has a child stopped attending school? Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior? Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts? Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse? Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing? Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive? Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care? Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the situation, e.g., where they go or who they talk to? Does the person appear to be coached on what to say? Is the person living in unsuitable conditions? Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation? Does the person have freedom of movement? Can the person freely leave where they live? Are there unreasonable security measures?
Blue Lightning Initiative An Element of the DHS Blue Campaign
Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI) DHS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and DOT lead the initiative in coordination with and support from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), non-governmental organizations and private industry. Through the initiative, DHS, CBP and DOT encourages airlines to adopt policies that increase employee awareness of human trafficking and reporting options.
What is BLI? A voluntary mechanism for U.S. commercial airlines and their employees to report potential trafficking victims and their traffickers they may encounter and to take immediate action to notify federal authorities. Provides participating airlines with a computer-based training module and materials that may be integrated into their initial or refresher training for flight attendants, customer service representatives, and other airline employees. BLI provides In-Flight and On-The-Ground reporting mechanisms.
Common Trafficking Indicators Indicator 1: The person has no control of his or her travel and identification documents. Indicator 2: The person has no freedom of movement or social interaction. Indicator 3: The person has no logical means of reaching, or lacks knowledge of, his or her final destination. Indicator 4: A child does not seem to be accompanied by his or her real parent or guardian.
BLI Reporting BLI enables reporting of suspicions of trafficking while in flight. Airline personnel may report suspected human trafficking via a toll-free tip line, an online tip form, an internationally available tip line or through flight deck communications. This real time reporting mechanism provides DHS law enforcement officials with additional time to identify victims or potential traffickers, conduct research and analysis and coordinate an appropriate situational response before the aircraft arrives.
BLI Reporting Mechanisms Flight Deck Communications via the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) Participating airlines may designated a corporate office or point of contact, which can then communicate the information to DHS by one of the voice tip lines or the Internet tip form. Flight Deck Communications via the FAA- sponsored Domestic Event Network (DEN) Human trafficking can be reported by flight deck communications via the DEN. Toll-Free Tip Line (From within the U.S. and Canada) By calling (866) 347-2423 from anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. The tip line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Internet Tip Form Reports may also be submitted through the online form at the ICE website, www.ice.gov/tips. Tip Line (From any country) Human trafficking can be reported from any country by calling (802) 872-6199.
Questions? For additional information on BLI, please contact Laurel Smith, CBP Office of Public Affairs, at: LAUREL.SMITH@CBP.DHS.GOV
Our Mission We are the guardians of our Nation s borders. We are America s frontline. We safeguard the American homeland at and beyond our borders. We protect the American public against terrorists and the instruments of terror. We steadfastly enforce the laws of the United States while fostering our nation s economic security through lawful international trade and travel. We serve the American public with vigilance, integrity and professionalism.