— By Brendan Giusti —
The Daily Times

FARMINGTON — An upcoming seminar has some area service providers taking a closer look at the potential local impacts of the world's second largest criminal industry: human trafficking.
Assistant Attorney General Jose Arguello will speak on the topic Wednesday, April 28 at Marriott TownePLace Suites as part of the fifth annual sexual assault mini-conference.

April also is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.





While human trafficking is an epidemic with global reaches, not much is known about the crime.
"I don't think we have a full understanding of how it affects our community," said Amber Valencia, community outreach coordinator for Family Crisis Center, a local organization that provides emergency shelter, counseling and other services for victims of domestic violence.

Vulnerable populations, such as the homeless, undocumented immigrants and teen runaways, are most at risk for becoming victims, Valencia said.

The crime often accompanies other crimes, making service providers a likely first responder.
"We found that many times the crime has been misidentified," Sanchez-Gagne said.
Reported domestic violence cases sometimes can be human trafficking, Sanchez-Gagne said. The crime isn't tied solely to domestic violence, she said.

Human trafficking can occur in the form of forced labor in the construction, agricultural, service, hotel and restaurant industries, Sanchez-Gagne said.

"The type of victim can be so broad as well," she said.

It is unclear how often cases of human trafficking occur in San Juan County.

Human trafficking is not limited to metropolitan areas. Any location with a demand for cheap labor or commercial sex runs the risk of harboring trafficked people.

"Training is important," Sanchez-Gagne said. "The victims are among us. We just need to learn how to identify them, and until we do, we likely won't encounter them."

The issue also may be harder to identify in San Juan County because of the rural setting and language barriers of some of the most vulnerable populations.


Despite someone potentially being in the country illegally, there are federal and state laws to protect them from being trafficked.

"Modern day slavery is not allowed in our country or in our state," Sanchez-Gagne said.

Brendan Giusti: bgiusti@daily-times.com

IF YOU GO


  • What: Fifth annual Sexual Assault mini-conference


  • Where: Marriott TownePlace Suites, 4200 Sierra Vista Drive, in Farmington


  • When: April 28
    Registration is due by April 16 to attend the day-long conference.
    For more information on registering, call Desert View Family Counseling at (505) 326-7878.

    OTHER RELATED EVENTS


  • What: Take Back the Night


  • Where: Gather at Safeway on West Main Street and march to Orchard Park


  • When: April 21. Gather at 6:45 p.m., and march at 7 p.m.


  • What: Free screening of the film: "Sin by Silence"


  • Where: Totah Theatre, 315 W. Main St., in Farmington


  • When: 7 p.m. May 5
    IMPORTANT NUMBERS


  • For emergencies call 911


  • Sexual Assault Services of Northwest New Mexico (Farmington)
    Rape crisis hotline: (505) 326-4700 or (866) 908-4700


  • Family Crisis Center (Farmington)
    Domestic violence hotline: (505) 564-9192 or (888) 440-9192


  • Desert View Family Counseling (Farmington)
    Crisis line: (505) 947-3645 or (505) 326-7878


  • Home for Women and Children (Shiprock)
    Domestic violence hotline: (505) 368-5124


  • Ajooba Sexual Assault Services (Shiprock)
    Sexual assault hotline: (505) 368-5130


  • Task Force Against Domestic Violence (Crownpoint)
    Domestic violence hotline: (800) 799-5050


  • Battered Families Services (Gallup)
    Domestic violence hotline: (505) 722-7483 or (800) 634-4508