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August
25, 2004
A press conference to announce the launching of an extensive program in northern New Jersey to combat human trafficking took place Aug. 23 at the Archdiocesan Center. The creation of an area law enforcement-based task force, headed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the development of a public awareness initiative, operated by the NJ Anti-Trafficking Coalition, a group of non-government organizations (NGO) and members of the task force, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Rescue and Restore campaign, are the first steps in this collaborative effort. "Evil is always with us in one form or another. As human beings, as people of faith, it is our responsibility to ease suffering, to heal those hurt by wrongdoers, to act at every opportunity to build a more just society. In doing so, we are called upon to bring light to the darkness," commented Archbishop John J. Myers at the briefing, going on to talk about the Archdiocese's participation in the plan. He was joined by Steven Wagner, Director of HHS’s Trafficking in Persons Program; New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith; Dr. Wade Horn, Assistant Secretary of HHS’ Administration for Children and Families; U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Christopher J. Christie; Alex Acosta, DOJ Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights; John Torres, Deputy Assistant Director for Smuggling and Public Safety, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS-ICE), and Avaloy Haynes Lanning, Project Director, Anti-Trafficking Initiative, International Institute of New Jersey (IINJ), who discussed the background of this rapidly growing crime industry (see the June 30 edition of The Catholic Advocate) and spoke on their particular organization’s role in this cooperative undertaking to raise awareness of the issue, carry out a plan of action to rescue victims and prosecute offenders, and to inform the public—especially healthcare and social service agencies as well as other NGOs—on how it can become involved. The task force will comprise federal, county and local law enforcement agencies in northern New Jersey. Members include representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), DHS-ICE, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey, as well as members of the prosecutor’s offices from Essex, Hudson and Union Counties and possibly a Newark law enforcement representative. Phillip Frese, Ph.D., C.P.A., Executive Director of Catholic Charities (formerly Catholic Community Services), and Avaloy Lanning will represent the NJ Anti-Trafficking Coalition on the task force. The goals of the task force are education, prosecution and victim referral services. In order to instruct law enforcement officers on how to begin handling potential cases of human trafficking, training sessions are being coordinated to help them recognize signs that identify victims and teach them what to do and who to turn to if confronted with such a situation. Prosecution of trafficking cases in New Jersey will fall under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), which was sponsored by Congressman Smith. The TVPA, which made human trafficking a federal crime, ensures more severe penalties for offenders and addresses common but previously difficult to prove means of coercion used by traffickers, such as psychological intimidation, seizing of legal documents and deception. Under the TVPA, victims may apply for a visa that grants them temporary residence and allows them to receive many services and benefits. After three years, they may apply for permanent residence status. Disseminating information to NGOs, such as healthcare and social service agencies—who may often encounter victims without realizing it—and victim referral services will be covered primarily by the NJ Anti-Trafficking Coalition. The Archdiocese’s Catholic Charities, under Catholic Health and Human Services (CHHS), will play a major role in the rescue and assistance of victims. Any calls received from the national hotline (888-3737-888) regarding a potential victim in this area of New Jersey will be transferred to Catholic Charities, which will be working closely with IINJ. Arrangements will then be made for a pickup and transport to a safe haven. The appropriate law enforcement official on the task force will also be notified. After this, Catholic Charities will provide support ranging from legal services to healthcare to housing to employment training and placement. Infrastructure for these services already exists within the network of CHHS, and an increase of resources specifically to aid victims of human trafficking is under way, including the opening of the Bishop Francis Center for Social Justice in the fall. Archbishop Myers has provided Catholic Charities with a substantial financial grant to assist in the development of this effort. Backing Catholic Charities and IINJ in the work of the NJ Anti-Trafficking Coalition are almost a dozen other NGOs so far, and the list continues to grow. Archbishop Myers has specifically charged parishes to become involved in this collaboration by helping to recognize possible victims of human trafficking in their own communities and referring cases to the appropriate channels. Pastors are being sent information kits, and Catholic Charities will also be distributing information to the parishes as it becomes available. The endeavor will continue to evolve as cases present themselves and as more organizations join in the cause to fight human trafficking. Newark is the fifth city in the U.S. to become involved in HHS’s Rescue and Restore campaign. “My hope is that this will augment awareness and the ability to identify and process offenders and help treat victims with respect and dignity,” said Mark J. McCarren, Chief, Public Protection Unit, District of New Jersey, U.S. Attorney’s Office, DOJ. An information packet was provided to attendees at the press conference, who included task force and coalition members, area NGOs, federal lawmakers, county law enforcement officials, and representatives from other dioceses (still not determined), as well as members of the media.
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