Motels, Trucking, Lawyers, and Human Trafficking
Jacob Bryant, PR Coordinator at Lanier Law Firm, sent us over some resources. It got me thinking about how we might consider working together with legal groups. Here's where it all started:
“We have put together a guide about the connection between the trucking industry and human trafficking. We have included information about why human trafficking is prevalent in trucking, how are people victimized, and the signs truckers should know to look out for. Check it out:
Trucking & Human Trafficking – lanierlawfirm.com/trucking-and-human-trafficking/
We put a ton of work into it. If you think this guide could be helpful for your readers, would you consider sharing a link to this somewhere on your page? I'm sure you get a lot of requests like this, but I think it may be worth a look.
Let me know if you have any questions or thoughts about this.
Thank you so much for your time. Have a great day,
Jake
[email protected]
Lanier Law Firm, 10940 W. Sam Houston Pkwy N, Suite 100 Houston, TX 77064
www.lanierlawfirm.com”
My first response
I'm excited to work with your group. You are one of the few that actually “get it” when it comes to the importance of ending human trafficking and I appreciate it greatly!
- The general flavor of what's happening: “In growing trend, suits seek to hold motel operators liable for human trafficking“
- A specific case: “Human Trafficking Survivor Settles Lawsuit Against Motel Where She Was Held Captive“
- And those don't even touch the “human trafficking in worldwide supply chain issues” that are being exposed right now. The TVPA is the US law. There's also the UK Modern Slavery Act and more that are out there ready to be flexed. “The Trafficking Victim Protection Act (TVPA) allows civil lawsuits against entities that benefit from human trafficking enterprises even if they have not engaged in trafficking themselves.“
- There are huge problems coming for multinationals. “The US Supreme Court has ruled food giants Nestlé USA and Cargill can't be sued for child slavery on African farms from where they buy their cocoa.”
Let me know what your colleagues think. Victims need justice.
This image is from Aug 13, 2020, but I included it because it shows this as a trend that will eventually need to be addressed by legal groups. We want justice for victims. Reach out to us if you want our help.
My second response
- Truckers Against Trafficking
- Convenience Stores Against Trafficking
- Commercial Lodging Training from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
- The complete Online Human Trafficking Prevention Course Review Series is collected here.
Here's the leadoff from the Lanier Law Firm page
Trucking and Human Trafficking
Human trafficking, or the use of force, fraud, or coercion for some type of sex or labor, is a $150 billion industry that often goes undetected. Unfortunately, truck stops remain a frequent location of trafficking crimes. While truck stops are not naturally hives of crime, they are, unfortunately, convenient and central locations for traffickers to move throughout the United States.
What is Human Trafficking?
Victims of human trafficking find themselves forced or coerced into engaging in specific types of labor or commercial sex acts without their consent. Often, human trafficking remains a hidden crime. Victims fear their abusers as well as law enforcement and suffer such significant trauma or personal injury that they struggle to reach out for help.
Human trafficking impacts people across genders, races, and ages. Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, and all too often, that victimization occurs in the shadows. Human trafficking traps an estimated 24.9 million people–64% are exploited for labor, while sexual exploitation accounts for an estimated 19% of human trafficking.
Why are truck stops used for human trafficking?
Sometimes, truck stops are used for human trafficking because truckers themselves are involved in the process. More often, however, truck stops serve as easy-to-access rest and transfer points in the human trafficking industry because:
Truck stops are conveniently positioned across the United States.
Truck stops are often located in remote areas.
A male customer base dominates truck stops.
Lanier Law Firm
Go check out the Lanier Law Firm page. There's so much more. They have assembled some great resources.