On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security announced the opening of its new Center for Countering Human Trafficking, and the media were nowhere to be found.
The Center for Countering Human Trafficking, based in Washington, D.C., has been operational since last month, and is being led by officials from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The launch of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking represents the investment of resources, attention, and time by the Trump Administration to combat and dismantle all forms of human trafficking. https://t.co/lAgjB5faVZ pic.twitter.com/suW7Eqj248
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 21, 2020
Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf tweeted, “Proud to announce the opening of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking. One of the many steps the Trump administration has taken to combat and dismantle all forms of human trafficking.”
Proud to announce the opening of the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking. One of the many steps the Trump administration has taken to combat and dismantle all forms of human trafficking. https://t.co/EvnoF7lnU4 pic.twitter.com/HXEZBWOfe4
— Acting Secretary Chad Wolf (@DHS_Wolf) October 20, 2020
Wolf added in a news release:
“Human trafficking is modern day slavery. There is no other way to say it. The words are strong because the actions are evil. The forms of exploitation, sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude that constitute human trafficking are antithetical in every way to the principles of human dignity that Americans hold dear. The launch of this Center for Countering Human Trafficking represents the investment of resources, attention, and time by President Trump to combat and dismantle all forms of human trafficking.”
According to The Blaze, the announcement stated that “The Center will build on the agency’s ‘victims first’ approach, which balances victim identification, rescue and support with prevention, investigation, and prosecution of traffickers.
ICE HSI is uniquely positioned to utilize criminal, immigration, and trade-based authorities to proactively identify, disrupt and dismantle cross-border human trafficking organizations.”
In fiscal year 2019 alone, “ICE initiated 1,024 human trafficking and forced labor related cases which led to 2,197 criminal arrests. These effective actions resulted in nearly 700 convictions and the rescue of more than 400 victims.”
Where is the media?
Many conservatives, including Donald Trump Jr., are frustrated over the lack of coverage from the media for this historic event.
Trump Jr. shared a post on Twitter, showing that members of the media asked zero questions during a briefing on the center’s launch.
“This is a disgrace. @realDonaldTrump is the first American Politician to address the scourge of human trafficking and fund it and no one has any interest in covering it. I guess they’re too busy running cover for Hollywood,” Trump Jr. tweeted.
This is a disgrace. @realDonaldTrump is the first American Politician to address the scourge of human trafficking and fund it and no one has any interest in covering it.
I guess they’re too busy running cover for Hollywood. https://t.co/w9CLUv4amK
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 20, 2020
Leftists on Twitter are also trying to compare the Trump administration’s focus on human trafficking to the Q Anon conspiracy:
Twitter personalities are scratching their heads wondering why anyone in government would want to end human trafficking.
Human trafficking is one of the greatest evils in the world & @realDonaldTrump & @dhsgov are taking decisive action to end this practice. It’s that simple. pic.twitter.com/AGjfFXON5W
— Acting Secretary Chad Wolf (@DHS_Wolf) October 20, 2020