DHS Takes Victim-Centered Approach on First Anniversary of Center for Countering Human Trafficking

DHS Takes Victim-Centered Approach on First Anniversary of Center for Countering Human Trafficking

  • Oct 27, 2021

Oct. 20 marks the first anniversary of the creation of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT). CCHT, led by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), is a DHS-wide effort dedicated to bringing human traffickers to justice, protecting victims of sex trafficking and forced labor, and preventing these terrible crimes from occurring.

In recognition of CCHT and to continue to advance its critical work, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas directed DHS components to incorporate a victim-centered approach into all policies, programs, and activities governing DHS interactions with victims of crime.

“The victim-centered approach is critical to the work of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking and to the Department’s fight against all crimes involving severe abuse and exploitation,” Mayorkas said.  “Safeguarding, supporting, and respecting victims of human trafficking is not just the right thing to do. It also enables law enforcement to better detect, investigate, and prosecute perpetrators of human trafficking.”

DHS also announced a number of new initiatives across components to combat sex trafficking and forced labor:

  • ICE HSI issued a directive underscoring HSI personnel’s responsibility to identify and assist victims of crime.
  • The CCHT launched a new public website at DHS.Gov/CCHT to bring together all DHS anti-human trafficking resources in one easily accessible place.
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released the first ever standalone T-Visa Resource Guide for law enforcement and certifying agencies.  The T-Visa Resource Guide provides information to certifying agencies, including law enforcement, on how to support victims of human trafficking while law enforcement investigates and prosecutes these crimes. USCIS also released updated and comprehensive T-visa policy guidance for agency adjudicators to clarify requirements for T-Visa eligibility.
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that, in addition to the seven Withhold Release Orders (WROs) and two Findings already issued in Fiscal Year 2021 to protect American consumers and businesses from goods made by forced labor, additional enforcement actions are expected in the coming days. As part of its mission to investigate and prevent goods made by forced labor from entering U.S. commerce, CBP has detained 1,469 shipments containing nearly $500 million of goods suspected to be made by forced labor in FY2021 alone.
  • Finally, the DHS Blue Campaign continues to educate the public, law enforcement, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders through partnerships, advertisements, and social media about the indicators of human trafficking and how to report it. 
    DHS remains committed to a victim-centered approach in the pursuit of justice for survivors of these heinous crimes.  

Featured

  • Maximizing Your Security Budget This Year

    Perimeter Security Standards for Multi-Site Businesses

    When you run or own a business that has multiple locations, it is important to set clear perimeter security standards. By doing this, it allows you to assess and mitigate any potential threats or risks at each site or location efficiently and effectively. Read Now

  • New Research Shows a Continuing Increase in Ransomware Victims

    GuidePoint Security recently announced the release of GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team’s (GRIT) Q1 2024 Ransomware Report. In addition to revealing a nearly 20% year-over-year increase in the number of ransomware victims, the GRIT Q1 2024 Ransomware Report observes major shifts in the behavioral patterns of ransomware groups following law enforcement activity – including the continued targeting of previously “off-limits” organizations and industries, such as emergency hospitals. Read Now

  • OpenAI's GPT-4 Is Capable of Autonomously Exploiting Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

    According to a new study from four computer scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, OpenAI’s paid chatbot, GPT-4, is capable of autonomously exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities without any human assistance. Read Now

  • Getting in Someone’s Face

    There was a time, not so long ago, when the tradeshow industry must have thought COVID-19 might wipe out face-to-face meetings. It sure seemed that way about three years ago. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • ComNet CNGE6FX2TX4PoE

    The ComNet cost-efficient CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is a six-port switch that offers four Gbps TX ports that support the IEEE802.3at standard and provide up to 30 watts of PoE to PDs. It also has a dedicated FX/TX combination port as well as a single FX SFP to act as an additional port or an uplink port, giving the user additional options in managing network traffic. The CNGE6FX2TX4PoE is designed for use in unconditioned environments and typically used in perimeter surveillance. 3

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area. 3

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3