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Obama administration, Amtrak target human trafficking
The departments of Transportation and Homeland Security and Amtrak are combining forces to catch human trafficking victims who are riding the rails, officials said Thursday.
The Obama administration agencies and the national passenger rail service said they would put 8,000 “frontline” employees on Amtrak trains to look for signs of passengers being trafficked against their will.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Thursday that it was important to ensure the system wasn't being exploited for this purpose.
“We cannot let the American transportation system be an enabler in these criminal acts,” LaHood said in a statement. “In addition to today’s partnership with the Department of Homeland Security and Amtrak, we are working with all modes of transportation to help stop the flow of human trafficking. Raising awareness can save lives, and we all have a responsibility to keep an eye out for these activities.”
“Today, we pledge to do more to combat human trafficking by broadening our network of partners to help us identify and rescue victims and help bring the perpetrators to justice,” Napolitano said in a statement. “We’re grateful to have the participation of Amtrak and the Department of Transportation in this important effort, which will help save lives, protect innocent victims, and prevent this form of modern day slavery.”
Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman said the rail service is “supportive of the DHS and DOT initiative to improve human trafficking awareness in the transportation industry and is proud to be the first partner in a program that will expand across the transportation sector.”
