Lawmakers combat human trafficking

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Lawmakers joined their efforts to combat human trafficking at an international conference Wednesday.

Gov. Rick Perry joined Texas State Rep. Senfronia Thompson at the International Conference on Human Trafficking to discuss the state's efforts to combat the issue and provide support to victims of human trafficking.

"Human Trafficking is a form of slavery," said Thompson. "Human trafficking inflicts irrevocable harm upon its victims and our communities. We must stamp out human trafficking immediately, aggressively, and completely."

Thompson said traffickers prey upon women, children and the most vulnerable, stealing their money and threatening their families to ensure cooperation.

"Human trafficking is a serious problem, whether you discuss the number of its victims or the severity of the emotional and physical damage that it inflicts upon them,” said Perry in a released statement. “Human traffickers and their illicit activities are a scourge that must be driven from our state."

Perry called on the Texas Legislature to create a tougher law to punish human traffickers, with penalties ranging from 25 years to life. He also asked for traffickers to remain in prison longer before becoming eligible for parole, for those who commit two or more acts during a period of more than a month.

In addition to stiffer punishments, Thompson highlighted the need to make the higher education community more aware. Thompson said that would ensure our educational system is producing professionals capable of joining the fight.

"We need to help law enforcement and prosecutors by giving them better tools to attack traffickers directly," said Thompson.

Perry recently announced grants through the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division of up to $500,000 statewide to Texas cities and counties to provide services to victims of human trafficking, as well as a grant of more than $291,000 to the Office of the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force.

According to the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault , federal government estimates show 18,000- to 20,000 victims are trafficked into the U.S. each year. Since 2001, 20 percent of the identified victims of human trafficking have been in Texas.

Officials said this modern-day slave trade forces trafficked individuals into everything from prostitution to hard labor in construction and agriculture, with many of the traffickers part of larger crime rings.

Last session, the governor signed House Bill 4009, which created the Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force.