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Blue Campaign Is Counting Down the Days Until #WearBlueDay
If you haven’t saved the date yet, it’s not too late: National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, also known as #WearBlueDay, is next month. On January 11, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Center for Countering Human Trafficking’s (CCHT) Blue Campaign invites you to help combat this crime by raising awareness — and it all starts with wearing blue. By wearing blue, the international color of human trafficking awareness, you’re stating your commitment to bringing this heinous crime out of the shadows. Participating is easy: Once you’ve picked a favorite blue outfit or item of clothing, take a picture of yourself wearing it and share the photo on social media. Whether it’s a selfie, group picture, or video, just make sure to use the hashtag #WearBlueDay.
Leading up to #WearBlueDay, the Campaign will share awareness resources on our website and social media channels. Follow Blue Campaign (@DHSBlueCampaign on X, Facebook, and Instagram) for more details.
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Blue Campaign Releases New Online Safety Videos
Traffickers use social media, video games, virtual chatrooms, and other digital platforms to target potential victims, especially young people. To combat these tactics, Blue Campaign has developed a new animated video series that shows what online exploitation can look like and how it can lead to a human trafficking scenario. Following a young person named Carter, this two-part series raises awareness of how to keep youth safe while playing online video games by providing tips to parents and adults working with youth on how to recognize signs of the crime. Watch the video here.
CCHT Marks 3rd Anniversary
In October, the CCHT marked its third anniversary as the first unified, intercomponent coordination center for countering human trafficking and the importation of goods produced with forced labor.
The Center was stood up on October 20, 2020, to advance counter human trafficking law enforcement operations, protect victims, and enhance prevention efforts by aligning DHS’s capabilities and expertise across offices into one location. CCHT staff includes special agents, intelligence research specialists, and others with experience in labor and sex trafficking investigations, victim protection, and training and outreach. 16 components and offices within DHS are represented at the Center.
In December 2022, the CCHT was codified into U.S. law with the signing of the Countering Human Trafficking Act of 2021.
“As the CCHT proudly observes its third anniversary, the Center continues to make strides in its mission to relentlessly combat human trafficking,” said Director Cardell T. Morant. By using every resource at our disposal, the CCHT remains committed to its cornerstone ‘4 Ps’ in dismantling this pervasive crime against vulnerable populations: prosecution, prevention, protection, and partnerships.”
For more information about the CCHT and the work it does to support investigations, protect victims, and raise awareness about human trafficking, visit go.dhs.gov/4PT.
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HSI Houston Investigation Results in 25-year Sentence for Man Who Trafficked 7th Grader
In October 2023, Juwan James Davis, a 28-year-old Houston man, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison following his conviction for sex trafficking a 13-year-old girl. The conviction was a result of a five-year investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began in February 2018 after authorities suspected Davis had trafficked a minor for sex. The victim was a 13-year-old girl who told authorities she met Davis on Snapchat, where he told her he wanted her to have sex for money. Davis posted ads of her wearing lingerie on Backpage to advertise her for commercial sex.
The victim told investigators Davis drove her to hotels and waited nearby while she engaged in commercial sex with customers. Once finished, the victim would contact Davis, who would pick her up and take the money. The victim also reported that Davis supplied her with drugs and had her “branded” by taking her to get a tattoo with his initials.
When law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Davis’s phone, they found communications between him and the victim in which they discuss her engaging in commercial sex. Also found were several pictures of the victim, some of which were used in the Backpage ads, including pictures of the 7th grader with a tattoo of Davis’s initials on her buttocks. Four years later, Davis also tried to manipulate and control the minor victim by contacting her from jail and attempting to get her to drop the charges.
Tragically, the victim passed away earlier this year at the age of 18.
HSI Houston conducted the investigation as part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance , which includes the Houston Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, HSI, the Texas Attorney General’s Office, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, Department of Labor – Wage and Hour Division, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Department of Public Safety, Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Social Security Administration – OIG, and Sheriff’s Offices in Harris and Montgomery counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery, and Fort Bend Counties.
BLI Partners With Norfolk International Airport to Combat Human Trafficking
Norfolk International Airport (ORF) has joined the fight to end human trafficking by partnering with the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI). By becoming a BLI partner, ORF will have access to virtual training and awareness resources year-round to provide employees. The 25-minute training module focuses on what human trafficking is, recognizing the signs, and how to report potential cases in aviation settings. ORF airport personnel will also receive in-person training in January of 2024.
To date, BLI has trained over 350,000 aviation personnel. Learn more at go.dhs.gov/Z3L.
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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