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The Monthly Newsletter of the Center for Countering Human Trafficking
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 The Spring Break Conversation Every Student Should Have
Millions of students travel every year for spring break, many for the first time without close supervision. A five-minute conversation about human trafficking warning signs could make all the difference. Help the students in your life travel confidently by teaching them what to watch for and how to stay safe.
Key Points to Share:
- Unfamiliar environments make students vulnerable, but awareness turns them into protectors. When more people know the warning signs, everyone’s safer.
- Going out and having fun is still the goal—it’s important that students recognize when someone’s being too friendly, too fast, or offering things that seem too good to be true. And they should never leave a friend behind.
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Blue Campaign resources give students practical, actionable information they can actually use in the moment, whether they’re on campus or across the country.
You’re on the Front Lines—Here’s How to Help
If you work in transportation, hospitality, or tourism, you’re likely to encounter human trafficking before law enforcement does. Spring break means more travelers passing through your workplace—and more chances to help protect the visitors to your community by being the person who spots the warning signs and reports them.
The Blue Campaign has free training and toolkits to help you know what to look for and how to report it. Aviation workers can also check out the Blue Lightning Initiative for specialized guidance.
Reminder: Trafficking Doesn’t Always Look Like What You Expect
When you picture human trafficking, you might think of someone being taken against their will. But forced labor is far more common—and harder to spot.
During spring break, look beyond the obvious. That kitchen worker who never gets a break? The hotel room attendant who hands their paycheck to someone else? These could be signs that someone is being exploited through debt, being lied to about their employment, or threatened so that they can’t escape. You don’t need to intervene directly—just call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to anonymously report what you’ve seen.
Bonus points: Check out Blue Campaign's labor trafficking awareness videos and share them with your friends, family, and colleagues!
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AT THE CENTER
CCHT Highlights Operational Impact and Partnerships in Congressional Staff Briefing
Unit Chief Brandi Bynum and Section Chief Alonzo Salinas recently provided a comprehensive briefing to staff from the House Committee on Homeland Security, reinforcing the Center’s ongoing commitment to transparency, collaboration, and mission-focused engagement with Congress.
The discussion offered an overview of the Center’s operational priorities, highlighting how CCHT integrates investigative coordination, survivor-centered approaches, and strategic partnerships across the Department of Homeland Security and with external stakeholders.
During the briefing, leadership emphasized the importance of a unified, whole-of-government response to combat human trafficking, underscoring the Center’s role in supporting field operations, strengthening intelligence sharing, and expanding prevention and training initiatives through programs such as the Blue Campaign. The team also discussed emerging trends in trafficking investigations, the evolving threat landscape, and the ways congressional support enables the Center to enhance resources, outreach, and interagency collaboration.
Participants engaged in a productive dialogue on the value of cross-component coordination, noting how partnerships with HSI field offices, DHS components, and community organizations help identify victims, disrupt criminal networks, and advance meaningful outcomes. The exchange reflected a shared commitment to accountability and to ensuring policymakers have a clear understanding of the operational realities facing investigators and partners on the front lines.
Engagements like this briefing play a vital role in strengthening relationships with congressional stakeholders and ensuring continued alignment between policy priorities and operational needs, ultimately supporting the Center’s mission to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable populations.
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FROM THE FIELD
HSI Dallas Sentence for Sex Trafficking and Related Offenses Investigation Results in 600-Months Incarceration
HSI Dallas recently reported the sentencing of a U.S. citizen to 600 months of incarceration in the Northern District of Texas following a significant investigation involving sex trafficking, narcotics distribution, and money laundering violations. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes and underscores the continued commitment of HSI and its partners to disrupt complex trafficking networks and holding offenders accountable.
The case originated from an HSI Dallas–led investigation conducted in close coordination with the Arlington Police Department. Through extensive investigative efforts, law enforcement officials uncovered evidence of trafficking activity alongside broader criminal conduct, demonstrating the interconnected nature of human trafficking, organized crime, and financial exploitation.
This outcome reflects the strength of collaborative partnerships between federal and local law enforcement agencies working together to identify victims, gather evidence, and pursue justice through the federal court system. HSI’s leadership in this investigation demonstrates the agency’s continued focus on targeting individuals who exploit vulnerable populations while also dismantling the broader criminal enterprises that support trafficking operations.
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@DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking on LinkedIn
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