Group in Grand Island shining a light on human trafficking – KSNB

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – Several Grand Island agencies gathered on Wednesday morning to learn about the problem of human trafficking in the city.

The event was hosted by the Grand Island Area Coalition on Trafficking. They used to the event to present some alarming statistics such as how human trafficking is the second largest organized crime in the United States.

At the event were representatives from a few law enforcement agencies, including the Nebraska State Patrol. Lieutenant Brent Bockstadter said events like this go to help raise awareness among community agencies.

“That is the awareness this coalition is trying to bring specific to this community is we don't want that to just be in the shadows and not be recognized educating people to signs and what those things are,” Lt. Bockstadter said. “To point it out to the service providers or to law enforcement to make those people safe that find themselves in that situation.”

Leaders of with GIACT said one demographic is more at risk than others when it comes to human trafficking.

“A big thing when it comes to immigration is, as with any crime that is happening to someone who is an immigrant, number one they may not be as aware of our laws as we are, as someone who is from America who is born and raised in America and if they are not as aware of our laws, they're not going to be as aware of our rights,” Allie Trautman with GIACT said.

Trautman went on to say that no matter the immigration status of a victim, law enforcement cares first and foremost about getting them how of that situation.

Copyright 2022 KSNB. All rights reserved.