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Everyone Is Safer When We Learn to #BeCyberSmart
The internet is a great way to connect with friends, family members, and others in your life, but it is also a medium that predators utilize to target and lure their victims. Traffickers can use seemingly harmless online conversations to make their victims feel comfortable about sharing personal information which can later be weaponized for exploitation. Staying aware is the best protection you have against exploitative situations online, including those that can lead to human trafficking.
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This year’s theme, “See Yourself in Cyber,” focuses on the people behind the devices. Blue Campaign, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations’ Project iGuardian and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), will be highlighting online safety information all month long on social media. Follow along with #BeCyberSmart and protect the people in your life by sharing the resources below.
Don’t forget to follow Blue Campaign on social media (@DHSBlueCampaign on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) for more information.
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Save the Date: 100 Days Until #WearBlueDay
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It’s time to mark your calendars! As of October 3, #WearBlueDay was officially 100 days away. Each year on January 11, Blue Campaign recognizes National Human Trafficking Awareness Day by encouraging communities to wear blue — the international color for human trafficking prevention — and spread awareness of human trafficking. As #WearBlueDay gets closer, stay tuned for more information on the full slate of events and activities Blue Campaign has planned for January. |
Modernizing the Continued Presence Program
The Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) processes Continued Presence (CP) applications for law enforcement organizations nationwide, supporting hundreds of trafficking victims and investigations each year. Since the CP program was moved under CCHT in 2021, transitioning the application process from a paper-based system to an online system while increasing awareness, training, and outreach has been a top priority for the center. To support these efforts, the CCHT issued the first-ever Continued Presence Resource Guide and engaged in listening sessions with law enforcement, service providers, and other external stakeholders to ensure that their needs and input were considered in designing a future automated system for the submission of CP applications.
Once fully developed, CCHT’s goal is to deploy an application that will be available to all federal human trafficking partners. This web-based application will reduce processing times, make the application process more accessible to law enforcement, and establish a more secure database of CP recipient information. This work also directly aligns with the Department’s priority to use technology and innovation to advance key mission areas and improve customer and stakeholder experiences.
With CCHT’s implementation of new streamlined procedures and a significant increase in outreach and training, new CP applications have reached a ten-year high, with more than 300 noncitizen victims receiving approved CP applications this past fiscal year alone. Because of these improvements in efficiency, the Executive Associate Director of Homeland Security Investigations recognized the outstanding accomplishments of CCHT’s CP team with an award for Excellence in Administration in August 2022.
What is Continued Presence?
Continued Presence (CP) is a temporary immigration designation provided to noncitizen individuals identified by law enforcement as trafficking victims who may be potential witnesses. CP allows noncitizen trafficking victims to lawfully remain in the U.S. temporarily and work during the investigation into the human trafficking-related crimes committed against them or during a pending civil action. The CP program and designation is distinct from other government programs, like visas, because CP applications must be requested by a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency. The stability and peace of mind CP can provide to victims is a crucial element to the success of a trafficking investigation as it allows witnesses to assist with the investigation without fear of removal or the inability to support themselves.
Four Defendants Sentenced to More Than 60 Years Collectively for Crimes Related to Child Sex Trafficking and Exploitation
Thanks to the partnership between federal, state, and local partners, four defendants from South Carolina and Arizona were handed down prison sentences ranging from 5 years to 27 years for child sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of a minor, and transferring obscene material. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) contributed to this multi-state, multi-agency investigation into child sex-trafficking and exploitation in the District of South Carolina.
“This case underscores the importance of online safety; these predators used the internet to help them victimize innocent children. Thankfully, they are facing justice for their despicable actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronnie Martinez, who oversees HSI operations in North Carolina and South Carolina. “Protecting our most vulnerable populations from exploitation is one of HSI’s most important missions and we are fortunate to have great working relationships with our law enforcement partners that provide us invaluable assistance in these cases.”
The case was investigated by HSI, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Myrtle Beach Police Department. It was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
More information on the case can be found in the U.S. Department of Justice press release.
Hotel Industry Launches Free Trafficking Prevention Training to Mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (HospitalityNet)
The American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLA), ECPAT-USA, and Marriott International launched a training program on trafficking prevention developed for the hotel industry. The project, titled “Recognize and Respond: Addressing Human Trafficking in the Hospitality Industry” was spearheaded by Marriott in collaboration with nonprofit organizations and survivor experts. The program was donated by Marriott to ECPAT-USA and is now free and available to the hotel industry through ECPAT-USA’s online learning platform thanks to the support of the AHLA Foundation. The Blue Campaign also offers tips, resources, and a toolkit to inform and educate hospitality employees about human trafficking.
Tag Blue Campaign on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram using @DHSBlueCampaign. Each month, we share content you can distribute on your social channels to raise awareness about human trafficking in your community.
- October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. “See Yourself in Cyber” and follow @DHSBlueCampaign for #BeCyberSmart tips to help protect yourself and others from online exploitation: dhs.gov/ZTZ
- In @DHSBlueCampaign’s four-part animated youth video series, witness how a trafficker grooms a young girl named Mia into a #HumanTrafficking situation: dhs.gov/Zce
- DYK: Youth can be particularly vulnerable to online exploitation? Watch @DHSBlueCampaign’s Youth Animated Video series to see how young people can be groomed into a #HumanTrafficking situation: dhs.gov/Zce
- #WearBlueDay is just 100 days away! Will you be joining @DHSBlueCampaign on January 11? Learn more about #WearBlueDay to help raise awareness of #HumanTrafficking: dhs.gov/ZSX
For more information visit the Blue Campaign
To report suspected human trafficking: 1-866-347-2423
To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733)
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