New Chivukula Law to Protect Foreign Residents From 'Modern-Day Slavery' | Politicker NJ

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Law Looks to Crack Down on Human Trafficking

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula sponsored to ensure potential au pairs and "mail-order brides" do not find themselves placed into near-slavery conditions in New Jersey has been signed into law by Gov. Jon Corzine.

The law aims to stem the trafficking of foreign citizens for illegal purposes by requiring the owners of any international labor matching or matchmaking company to undergo a criminal background check prior to be being allowed to provide their services in New Jersey.

"People around the world still look to the United States for personal connections that will lead to work or love," said Chivukula (D-Somerset). "Yet, there can be a dark side to these services, some of which are nothing more than fronts for modern-day slavery. We cannot allow innocent people looking to America for a better life to unwittingly find themselves made even worse off."

The new law requires the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to initiate criminal history background checks of current and future owners and employees of international labor matching organizations or international matchmaking organizations.

International labor matching organizations are companies that recruit foreign laborers for jobs in the United States; au pair services are among the most popular. International matchmaking organizations are companies that seek to provide dating, matrimonial, or social referral services between foreign residents and U.S. citizens. Only individuals certified as having no criminal history record would be allowed to own or work for such organizations. Violators would be subject to $10,000 in fines for a first offense and fines of $20,000 for subsequent offenses.

The Protection Project, a human rights research institute affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, has noted links between so-called "mail-order bride" operations specifically and forced prostitution.

"We simply cannot allow anyone's human rights to be trampled by criminals who know only black-market profit and greed," said Chivukula.

http://www.politickernj.com/droseman/35183/new-chivukula-law-protect-foreign-residents-modern-day-slavery