Last week, a collective gasp was heard inside the Cortez Police Department as residents learned that victims of human trafficking are sometimes tattooed with bar codes.
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.
“Human trafficking is modern-day slavery,” said Shiflett.
With millions of victims globally, Shiflett said America wasn’t 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.
“It’s physical and psychological abuse,” she said.
Shiflett was one of four presenters at last week’s 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.
Shiflett added the crime was more than just a “big city” problem, citing traffickers would routinely avoid major interstate arteries to travel along U.S. 491 and 160.
“Data shows that trafficking happens here in the Four Corners,” said Shiflett.
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.
“They are synonymous, but they aren’t the same,” said Shiflett.
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.
“If you have someone that you suspect is being trafficked, don’t try to rescue them,” Carnes warned. “It can be dangerous to get involved … exploiters are watching their clients.”
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.
“It takes everybody to help combat this problem,” said Landgren.
Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane agreed, encouraging citizens to be mindful and observant.
“Your eyes are ears are what’s important,” Lane said.
To help raise awareness and end human trafficking, the U.S. Department of Human Services has launched its “Blue Campaign.” For more, log onto www.DHS.gove/BlueCampaign.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com
