11 trafficking arrests in Iowa last Thursday and Friday, August 26th and 27th

Iowa Law Enforcement was a part of a 12 state sting resulting in a total of 47 victims being rescued, and 102 arrests. More than 40 of the victims needed some sort of medical attention. The 12 midwestern state coordinated raid is known as “Operation United Front.” The operation took throughout the day on Thursday, August 26th, and into early Friday morning, August 27th.

In Iowa, Law Enforcement executed 10 search warrants, identified five businesses involved in sex trafficking, made 11 arrests, and seized a large quantity of U.S. currency. Law Enforcement Agencies participating in the operation included the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Ankeny Police Department, Clive Police Department, Dallas County Sherriff’s Office, Des Moines Police Department, Jasper County Sherriff’s Office, Polk County Sherriff’s Office, Urbandale Police Department, Walcott Police Department, West Des Moines Police Department, and the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement.

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office coordinated the operation. If you tap the link below, you will see a TV press conference reviewing the outcome of Operation United Front, plus a written description.

https://who13.com/news/47-victims-rescued-102-arrested-in-human-trafficking-stings-across-iowa-and-11-other-states/

Walk for Freedom on October 16th

Have you registered to organize and lead a Walk for Freedom in your local community? The Iowa NAHT encourages you to sign up to raise awareness of human trafficking in your community.

Walk for Freedom is the A21 (an international anti-trafficking organization devoted to child survivors) annual mobilization event – rallying people all over the world to walk millions of steps for the millions enslaved. It’s an outward expression of A21’s inward desire to see slavery abolished everywhere – in our cities, in our communities, and in our world.

Every step helps child survivors experience peace, hope, and freedom. Sign up to organize a Walk For Freedom near you, happening October 16. If you or your local anti-trafficking coalition organize a walk, please, take photos and send a short description for us to publish in the NAHT November 1st Blog Post. The link to sign up is here: https://www.a21.org/content/walk-for-freedom-2021-campaign/gs96yw?permcode=gs96yw

October Human Trafficking Summit Moved to Spring 2022

Due to Iowa’s increase in COVID-19 cases (and the projected continued increase), the Iowa Human Trafficking Summit originally planned to take place at Prairie Meadows next month has been postponed. The summit sponsor, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, did not feel it is responsible or safe to plan to hold an in-person Iowa Summit in October. Gretchen Brown-Waech, AGO, Human Trafficking Coordinator intends that this is one conference that should not be held virtually. It is her intention to hold this in-person if at all possible. Therefore, the Summit is being rescheduled for Spring 2022. The NAHT will continue to update you as we receive more Iowa Summit information.

Bus to Create Human Trafficking Awareness is Now on the Streets for an Entire Year

A city bus with a strong message is now traversing Dubuque, Iowa streets. It will be viewed by thousands as it travels the streets of Dubuque for an entire year. The wrap is displayed on both sides of the bus which will take a different route throughout the city every week. The Tri-State Coalition Against Human Trafficking and Slavery is sponsoring the bus wrap. It features a photo of a young girl to drive home the growing reality: “Not for Sale: Stop Human Trafficking” and includes the national hotline number: 888-3737-888.

Bus to Create Human Trafficking Awareness

The bus wrap project is a follow-up to human trafficking awareness training sessions given to approximately 70 Julie Transit Bus Company drivers.

Funds for the wrap came from the generous donors to the project, including City of Dubuque Human Rights Commission and the Community YM/YMCA. The total cost for the one year bus wrap was $6,250. Julie Transit gave the coalition a $500 discount. Funds for the wrap came from the following donors to the project:

– Dubuque Franciscans: $3,000
– BVM Peace & Justice Collection: $780
– U of D: Spartan K run: $590
– SUN: Sisters United for News: $500
– Sisters of Charity, BVM: $500
– DBQ YMCA/YWCA: $500
– DBQ Human Rights Commission: $150
– Individual Donation: $50
________________________
Total Donations: $6,070

The Coalition’s hope is that the human trafficking awareness will help to prevent vulnerable young persons from becoming victims of this crime, and encourage people to contact the hotline if they see something.

This same “Not For Sale” message is posted on a billboard on US 20 between Dyersville and Dubuque. The timing is intentional. Large public events like athletic contests and fairs are a magnet for traffickers, and in Dubuque County none was bigger this summer than the major league baseball game that was held on Thursday, August 12th between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees at Dyersville’s iconic Field of Dreams. Eight thousand fans cheered on their teams. The Tri-State Coalition also distributed several hundred NAHT Rescue Stickers to hotels, gas stations, and other businesses on route to the Field of Dreams.

“We want people to realize that no person is a commodity to be sold,” said Coalition member Sister Irene Lukefahr, BVM. “Each person is a beloved daughter or son of God, worthy of dignity and respect, not a tool for pleasure and profit.”

The Tri-State Coalition was founded by members of the area Catholic communities of women in 2014. It is one of eleven anti-trafficking coalitions in Iowa. Eight of the Coalitions have representatives serving on the NAHT Board of Directors. The Tri-State Coalition is made up of both men and women dedicated to the eradication of this dehumanizing, criminal enterprise. For more information contact Kim Hilby, khilby@dbq.edu, who represents the Tri-State Coalition on the NAHT Board of Directors. Kim is a professor of social work at the University of Dubuque.

World Day Against Trafficking Event A Success in West Liberty, Iowa

July 30th was the West Liberty Rotary Club’s 3rd annual fundraiser in support of fighting human trafficking and it was a great success. July 30th was also World Day Against Trafficking and the Rotarians are to be commended for observing this day with this special event.

Serving meals of hamburgers, bratwursts, chips and drinks was another great success thanks to the generosity and willing donations of those who attended. All donated funds ($1,300) were sent to the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery for our use in developing awareness materials and programs to prevent human trafficking in Iowa. The NAHT is very grateful to the West Liberty Rotary Club.

Those attending learned of Operation Underground Railroad’s efforts worldwide. Posters and awareness information from the NAHT were also on display. Truckers Against Trafficking posters and materials were also on display. TAT is a nonprofit organization that trains truck drivers to recognize and report instances of human trafficking. Truckers are the eyes and ears of our nation’s highways.

Also present was Braking Traffik, a division of Family Services of Davenport, Iowa. Braking Traffik handed out materials in Spanish and English regarding this horrific crime and showed a video of three IOWA teens who are human trafficking survivors. Braking Traffik shared that their organization is currently working with approximately 50 individuals who are trafficking survivors.

In addition to good food, most of those in attendance also learned the International Hand Signal for a victim to let others know that he/she needs HELP. (See Below)

International Signal for Help

Two of the West Liberty Rotary Club volunteers who cooked and served all day on July 30th are shown above.

Contact Iowa Senators About New Legislation to Help Survivors

The Polaris Project is doing some very interesting work on how human trafficking victims are often exploited financially. They have set up a Financial Intelligence Unit in partnership with PayPal that brings together the anti-money laundering, banking and law enforcement communities with the expertise of human trafficking survivors and others in the anti-trafficking field.

They point out that, “Traffickers routinely take out loans and conduct similar financial transactions in the names of the people under their control. When those survivors break free and begin to rebuild their lives, they often find that their credit has been completely destroyed as a result of their traffickers’ schemes. The consequences of bad credit range from ineligibility for certain kinds of housing to inability to get loans and financial support for education.”

One way YOU can help is by contacting our two U.S. Senators and asking them to vote for the Debt Bondage Repair Act (S2040) which helps survivors of human trafficking repair their credit records, (For a summary: https://www.billtrack50.com/BillDetail/1380566). This legislation has passed the House of Representatives and since June 14 has been in the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

Information, Articles, and Resources

By on September 1, 2021   /   News