Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas discusses the heinous crime of human trafficking, and the work DHS is doing every day to end human trafficking.

• Transcript

Hello. I am Alejandro Mayorkas, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery involving the illegal recruitment, transport, and transfer of people for exploitation and commercial gain.
This is not a problem isolated to developing countries.
Whether through sex trafficking, forced labor, or domestic servitude, millions of women, men and children around the world are victims of human trafficking, including right here in the United States.
We at the Department of Homeland Security have taken a strong stance in combating this heinous crime.
Since 2010, we have coordinated our response to combating human trafficking through the "Blue Campaign", a Department-wide initiative to strengthen and manage DHS's anti-human trafficking efforts and bring awareness to this important issue.
Through the unified voice of the Blue Campaign, Department components work across their missions each and every day to combat this heinous crime.
For example, our Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigates international and domestic cases of human trafficking and supports victims through a victim assistance program.
Our Customs and Border Protection screens for human trafficking at our ports of entry and along our Nation's borders.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services works to provide immigration relief to foreign victims of human trafficking.
And our Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers train law enforcement personnel around the country to detect and investigate human trafficking.
These and many other efforts across the Department contribute to the Blue Campaign and reflect our commitment to combating human trafficking.
By raising public awareness and working closely with partners in federal, state and local governments, businesses, organizations, and faith-based and community partners, the Blue Campaign strives to protect the basic right of freedom and bring those who exploit human lives to justice.
We are working hard, but our Department cannot fight human trafficking alone.
We need your help.
I encourage you to learn more about what you can do to combat human trafficking.
Take an online training or download our resources to share with friends, family and neighbors to learn more about how you or your organization can become a partner in the fight against human trafficking.
For more information visit our website at www.DHS.gov/BlueCampaign or our Facebook page at facebook.com/bluecampaign.
Together we can end the terrible crime of human trafficking in the United States.
Thank you.