California

Nicknamed the “Golden State,” California is the third largest state in area after Alaska and Texas. The discovery of gold and the immigration in 1849 of thousands of “forty-niners” in search of the precious metal helped California’s admission into the Union in 1850. Today, California, land of the giant redwoods, has the highest population of any state in the nation and is America’s principal agricultural state. It is also the home of Hollywood, the center of America’s movie and television industry. Its capital is Sacramento and the state flower is the golden poppy.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people all over the world, including in California. It is defined as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit someone for the purpose of forced labor, sexual exploitation, or other forms of abuse. Human trafficking can take many forms, including labor trafficking, domestic servitude, and sex trafficking.

In California, human trafficking is a major problem, particularly in urban areas. There have been many reported cases of labor trafficking in industries such as agriculture, restaurants, and domestic work. There have also been numerous cases of sex trafficking, particularly in the illegal commercial sex industry.

To combat this issue, California has enacted laws to criminalize human trafficking and provide support for victims. The California Department of Justice has a Human Trafficking Task Force, which works to investigate and prosecute cases of human trafficking in the state. There are also many non-profit organizations and advocacy groups in California that work to support victims of human trafficking and raise awareness about this issue. If you are a victim of human trafficking or know someone who may be a victim, there are resources available to help you. You can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or contact local law enforcement for assistance.

 

 

Child workers found throughout Hyundai-Kia supply chain in Alabama – Reuters
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Child workers found throughout Hyundai-Kia supply chain in Alabama – Reuters

Child workers found throughout Hyundai-Kia supply chain in Alabama Children worked for at least four Alabama parts suppliers to Hyundai and Kia in recent years, Reuters found. Staffing agencies placed migrant minors in plants where regulations ban kids from working. State and federal authorities are investigating.   By MICA ROSENBERG, KRISTINA COOKE and JOSHUA SCHNEYER…

Yes, incarcerated workers still make license plates
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Yes, incarcerated workers still make license plates

Inmates have produced license plates as part of prison labor programs for more than 100 years, and continue to do so in many U.S. states. Two out of three people incarcerated in state and federal prisons are also workers, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) estimated in a June 2022 report. Deb recently reached out…

Lawmakers demand answers from HHS over allegations of transferring migrant children to criminals
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Lawmakers demand answers from HHS over allegations of transferring migrant children to criminals

Tara Lee Rodas, who helped HHS process migrant children at a California Emergency Intake Site, spoke to investigative outlet Project Veritas when making the bombshell allegations. Americans “have no idea that children are going to unrelated people,” she said. “That children are definitely — we have proof, evidence — that they are being recruited and…

Fighting the Good Fight – Orange County Business Journal
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Fighting the Good Fight – Orange County Business Journal

Orange County’s affluence has made the area a desirable place to travel, settle down and start a company. Its wealth, however, has also attracted a more sinister business: human trafficking. The area is heavily overrepresented in terms of traffickers and victims, who have come to Orange County from across the U.S. due to demand, according…

Your child’s glasses may have been made with forced prison labor
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Your child’s glasses may have been made with forced prison labor

When Sovannarie was 3 months old, her parents noticed something unusual about their daughter: white opacities in both pupils. Without cataract surgery — and soon — doctors predicted irreversible vision loss. Even if that procedure went perfectly, Sovannarie would need glasses to rehabilitate her eyes and prevent blindness. A decade and many operations later, Sovannarie…

GA police officer cycling 1,000 miles to fundraise for non-profit aiding human trafficking victims
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GA police officer cycling 1,000 miles to fundraise for non-profit aiding human trafficking victims

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – “Their freedom is our fuel,” that is the motto that is keeping a Sandy Springs police officer pushing through a 1,000-mile adventure on his bike. He started in Austin, Texas, and just crossed the Georgia state line this afternoon. Officer Janssen Redcay is cycling to raise money for an…

Innocence Sold: ‘Kidnapping, human trafficking, murder.’ What happened to missing teen Sophie Reeder?
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Innocence Sold: ‘Kidnapping, human trafficking, murder.’ What happened to missing teen Sophie Reeder?

Third of four parts. It was after midnight, and her father was asleep. Fifteen-year-old Sophie Reeder slipped out of her Fort Lauderdale home wearing a short black skirt, high-top sneakers, a leopard-print coat and headphones. Her hair was neatly twisted into side buns. She took nothing with her. In her bedroom, she left a stack…

5 Arrested, 21 Offered Support Services During San Diego County Human Trafficking Operation
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5 Arrested, 21 Offered Support Services During San Diego County Human Trafficking Operation

Five people were arrested during a countywide law enforcement operation aimed at capturing human traffickers, it was announced Thursday. Operation Home for the Holidays was conducted over three days this week in San Diego, National City, and Santee by the multi-agency San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force. In an effort to identify traffickers and trafficking…

Five people arrested in human trafficking sting
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Five people arrested in human trafficking sting

Five people were arrested during a countywide law enforcement operation aimed at capturing human traffickers, officials announced Thursday. Operation Home for the Holidays was conducted over three days this week in San Diego, National City and Santee by the multi-agency San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force. In an effort to identify traffickers and trafficking victims,…

Why Outlawing Slavery Won’t Outlaw Slavery—Yet
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Why Outlawing Slavery Won’t Outlaw Slavery—Yet

Slate podcast transcripts are created by Snackable using machine-learning software and have not been reviewed prior to publication. Listen to this episode Mary Harris: In all the coverage of the red wave that wasn’t this midterm cycle. There’s this one thing the voters weighed in on that I’m not sure people have talked about enough….