Sen. Cruz: ‘Human Trafficking is Nothing Less Than the Face of Evil’
Issues statement on National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today issued the following statement highlighting the importance of putting an end to human trafficking, which continues in Texas, and across the nation in honor of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month:
“Human trafficking is a terrible and inhumane practice, affecting every community across the country, including the State of Texas,” Sen. Cruz said. “Human trafficking is nothing less than the face of evil. It completely tears down the rights of its victims, forcing them into modern-day slavery and it must be stopped. As Americans, we must come together with the conviction that the current situation cannot stand. I am grateful for our law enforcement officers who seek to free victims from their captors, and I also applaud the endless work men and women do to tackle and shine a light on this issue. I remain committed to continue working with my colleagues in Congress to put an end to this grotesque practice by holding traffickers liable for their crimes, and to help survivors seek justice.”
Sen. Cruz has been a strong advocate against human trafficking crimes leading legislative efforts including:
- The Visa Transparency Anti-Trafficking Act: Sens. Cruz and Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct.) previously introduced this legislation in the 115th Congress. This bipartisan legislation would combat human trafficking by inserting important transparency measures into our U.S. nonimmigrant visa system by asking the Department of Homeland Security to submit an annual report on nonimmigrant visa applicants, grantees, recruiters, and employers. The goal is to make good use of the information already provided to the U.S. government and give law enforcement as well as local communities the resources they need to identify vulnerabilities in the system and keep likely victims from harm.
- The Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act: Sen. Cruz co-sponsored this bipartisan legislation in the 115th Congress, which was signed into law by President Trump. This law seeks justice for victims of sex trafficking and ensures that websites that knowingly facilitate sex trafficking are held liable and brought to justice for their crimes.
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