CBS 7 - Your Eye on West Texas

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Jennifer Samp
CBS 7 News
jsamp@cbs7.com

January 25, 2010

You’ve seen it portrayed in movies and on television, but it’s a very real epidemic.

Millions of people each year are forced into modern-day slavery or prostitution.
Now law enforcement officials say the problem maybe closer than we think.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Houston and El Paso are two of the most intense trafficking areas in the country.

ICE officials says offenders bring their victims right here through west Texas.

Texas attorney Greg Abbott called a human trafficking prevention task force meeting last Tuesday to better identify victims.

"Texas comprises the largest portion of that,” Jerry Garnett with Immigration and Customs Enforcement said, “So there's going to be a large volume coming through the state of Texas"

So what does this mean for our area?

“Organizations don't bring the people here for them to remain here.” Garnett says.

He says the Midland-Odessa area is not a haven but a corridor for human trafficking groups.

“This is just a wait point along the way they might bring them here in one load then break up that load going destine for different parts of the United States.” Garnett said.

He says it's hard for law enforcement to recognize these trafficking groups.

Its very difficult in that we have to identify the organization and actually have some type of information coming from it.” Garnett said. “Usually we get the information from a victim of trafficking.”

He says the difference between smuggling and trafficking are the intentions.
Debt bondage can easily turn "smuggling" into "trafficking"

Debt bondage would be cases were the aliens were smuggled into the U.S. and they're forced into working in order to payoff their smuggling fees.

In most cases the victim never pays off their smuggling fees

“For females its prostitution or massage parlors,” Garnett said, “Children it's a little bit different but children could also be traffic for the sex trade.”

Garnett says is a way to lure people in who are just looking for a way to live in America

“They try to tell the people, we'll bring you into the United States, well find you a job, we'll do all this for you and rope the people into it.” Garner said.

If you suspect human trafficking or smuggling, ICE recommends calling their tip line: 1-866-DHS-2-ICE

CBS 7 - Your Eye on West Texas

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