 BE THE EYES IN THE AIR
Every time you walk through an airport, whether you’re an airline employee or a passenger, you can be an extra set of eyes to identify and report signs of human trafficking. National Aviation Week is August 19–25, so take time to find out how you can help with Blue Campaign resources:
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Aviation Employees: Read our guide tailored specifically for the transportation industry to help you recognize and respond to suspected human trafficking. You can also print out these posters from our Blue Lightning Initiative to display at your airport.
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Members of the Public: You can spread awareness about human trafficking by learning how to identify indicators of suspicious activity. Explore our website to see what the indicators of human trafficking are and what you can do if you see them.
Put Human Trafficking Awareness on Your Back-to-School Checklist
Are you preparing your school or your children for a new school year? While you’re gathering supplies and doing your back-to-school shopping, don't forget that human traffickers can use this busy season to identify vulnerable people to exploit. You can help protect children by adding a lesson in human trafficking awareness to your reading material:
 In Case You Missed It: Spot Signs of Human Trafficking at Big Games
The World Cup might be over, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t more opportunities to spot signs of human trafficking at large sports events or even in your neighborhood. Human trafficking affects millions of people worldwide. In this video, CCHT Unit Chief Brandi Bynum shares what human trafficking can look like, where it can show up, and how everyday people can help fight it. Help us spread awareness by sharing the video on X, Instagram, and Facebook!
AT THE CENTER
CCHT Welcomes Delegation from Latin America and Spain
The CCHT’s Partnership and Engagement Unit recently joined the Victim Protection unit, the Sex Trafficking Investigative Unit, and the Blue Campaign to host a delegation from Latin America and Spain to strengthen global partnerships in combating sex trafficking and forced labor.
The group included law enforcement officials, victim advocates, mental health professionals, and communication experts from Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Spain. Each attendee brought their unique challenges and a commitment to reinforcing their response to human trafficking in their own communities.
In addition to providing an overview of the Center’s work, participants also learned more about tools and resources available to help identify victims, support survivors, and hold traffickers accountable. The visit created an opportunity for an exchange of ideas so CCHT and its international partners can continue to build stronger methods to protect victims, support survivors and disrupt trafficking networks around the world.
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CCHT, USCIS Hold Seminar to Inform Public About Human Trafficking Tools
The CCHT and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service recently held a webinar for law enforcement and public safety professionals focusing on federal tools that protect trafficking victims and support successful investigations.
The webinar discussed Continued Presence and visa applications and how these tools can be used in investigation strategies. Trafficking survivors also shared first-person accounts on how these tools played a critical role in their recovery while giving law enforcement the opportunity to build stronger cases against traffickers.
The webinar reinforced the use of ever available tools to protect victims, embolden investigations, and improve survivor outcomes.
IN THE FIELD
HSI Tampa, HSI Miami and University of South Florida Collaborate on Human Trafficking Response Efforts
Homeland Security Investigations and the San Antonio Police Department, with assistance from the FBI, investigated a case in which two illegal aliens from Venezuela were eventually sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to a combined 32 years in prison for sex trafficking of a 16-year-old starting in Colombia and extending to Virginia, Kentucky, and Texas.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Giannys Alexandra Ramirez-Fernandez, 21, and Nelson Adrian Perez-Martinez, 23, conspired with the knowledge that a 16-year-old On September 17, 2025, Ramirez-Fernandez pleaded guilty to three counts: aiding and abetting sex trafficking of children, conspiracy to sex traffic children, and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. On Oct. 1, 2025, federal prosecutors filed a five-count superseding indictment charging Perez-Martinez with aiding and abetting sex trafficking children; aiding and abetting benefitting from sex trafficking children; conspiracy to sex traffic children; aiding and abetting coercion and enticement; and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. A jury found Perez-Martinez guilty on all counts on February 23, 2026.
The U.S. District judge sentenced Perez-Martinez to 240 months in federal prison and lifetime supervised release. The judge also sentenced Ramirez-Fernandez to 150 months in federal prison.
“Human trafficking has no place in the world,” said HSI San Antonio acting Special Agent in Charge, John A. Pasciucco. “The suffering and abuse endured by the minor victims at the hands of this organization is unconscionable, and these sentences reflect the severity of those crimes. Our agents, analysts, and specialists work tirelessly—both globally and domestically—to pursue traffickers and, most importantly, to rescue victims across the country and around the world.”
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