Wisconsin

In 1634, Frenchman Jean Nicolet became Wisconsin‘s first European explorer. The French controlled the area until 1763, when it was ceded to the British. The state’s name is an English version of a French adaptation of an Indian name said to mean “the place where we live.” The Wisconsin Territory was formed in 1836 and was admitted into the Union as the 30th state in 1848. With the nickname “America’s Dairyland,” it’s no surprise that Wisconsin is one of the top producers of milk, cheese, and butter in the country. In fact, the loyal fans of the Green Bay Packers football team call themselves “cheeseheads.” Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, helps make Wisconsin one of the largest manufacturing states in the nation. The state capital, Madison, is home to the University of Wisconsin. The flower of the “Badger State” is the wood violet and the state bird is the robin.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people all around the world, including in Wisconsin. It is a form of modern slavery in which individuals are exploited for labor, sexual exploitation, or other purposes.

According to data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Wisconsin has consistently ranked among the top states in the United States for the number of human trafficking cases reported. In 2020, the state ranked ninth in the country for the number of cases reported to the hotline, with a total of 102 cases.

Human trafficking can take many forms in Wisconsin, including forced labor, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation. It often affects vulnerable populations, such as immigrants, children, and people who are homeless or in poverty.

If you suspect that someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, there are steps you can take to help. You can report the situation to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by text at 233733. You can also contact local law enforcement or a trusted organization that provides services to victims of human trafficking. It is important to remember that the safety of the victim should be the top priority and to handle the situation with care and sensitivity.

 

 

AG Kaul announces additional $2M grant for anti-human trafficking task force
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AG Kaul announces additional $2M grant for anti-human trafficking task force

MADISON, Wis. (WSAW) – Attorney General Josh Kaul has announced the efforts of the Wisconsin Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force will continue for another three years with a newly awarded $2 million grant from the U.S. DOJ for Victims of Crime. WAHTTF is a statewide multidisciplinary task force comprised of federal, state, and tribal law enforcement…

Human trafficking task force meets for first time
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Human trafficking task force meets for first time

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced the creation of four new task forces last month. Among them, one focused on finding ways to prevent human trafficking and support survivors. Introducing four bipartisan Speaker Task Forces, tackling key issues impacting our state. From AI to childhood obesity, these groups will shape policies reflecting…

Bipartisan Legislative Task Force Takes On Artificial Intelligence
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Bipartisan Legislative Task Force Takes On Artificial Intelligence

Wisconsin State Capitol. Photo by Mariiana Tzotcheva. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) announced on Thursday the creation of four bipartisan task forces including one dedicated to artificial intelligence. The announcement follows Gov. Tony Evers’ Wednesday announcement that he was creating a task force on artificial intelligence (AI) and the state’s workforce. The task forces, which…

Assembly Speaker Vos announces bipartisan task forces, including one focused on AI – Wisconsin Examiner
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Assembly Speaker Vos announces bipartisan task forces, including one focused on AI – Wisconsin Examiner

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) announced on Thursday the creation of four bipartisan task forces including one dedicated to artificial intelligence. The announcement follows Gov. Tony Evers’ Wednesday announcement that he was creating a task force on artificial intelligence (AI) and the state’s workforce. The task forces, which will be led by a Republican chair…

Testimony by Tara Lee Rodas for The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement
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Testimony by Tara Lee Rodas for The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement

Editor’s note: We are non-partisan. Children are being hurt. Please, watch, read, learn, and act accordingly. Hearing Date: Wednesday 04/26/2023 – 3:00 PM Hearing Location: 2141 Rayburn House Office Building The hearing, “The Biden Border Crisis: Exploitation of Unaccompanied Alien Children,” will examine the unprecedented surge of unaccompanied alien children at the southwest border and…

ISSUE BRIEF: 2021-2023: Child Exploitation at the Southern Border
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ISSUE BRIEF: 2021-2023: Child Exploitation at the Southern Border

TOPLINE POINTS The Biden Administration’s open border policies are responsible for the record setting number of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) trafficked or smuggled to the U.S. southern border. These vulnerable children are being exploited and abused by Mexican cartels, human traffickers, corporations, and their own families on the journey north and after the Biden Administration…

U.S. House Democrats push for congressional hearing on child labor violations – Wisconsin Examiner
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U.S. House Democrats push for congressional hearing on child labor violations – Wisconsin Examiner

WASHINGTON — Top Democrats on the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee are urging Republican Chair Virginia Foxx of North Carolina to hold a hearing this month on the uptick in child labor violations. Democratic Reps. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the ranking member of the committee, and Alma Adams of North Carolina, the ranking member…

Missing Migrant Children: 85,000 Disappear Under Biden Administration
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Missing Migrant Children: 85,000 Disappear Under Biden Administration

Why aren’t more people concerned about the missing migrant children under the Biden administration? By Victor Huyke Conquistador News editor, special to Wisconsin Right Now According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) in the United States, an estimated 460,000 children are reported missing yearly. However, this is only a tiny…

Exploitative Child Labor Is Hurting Kids’ Ability to Stay in School
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Exploitative Child Labor Is Hurting Kids’ Ability to Stay in School

When Guatemalan immigrant Jose Velasquez was 13, he began spending his summers working alongside his mother in North Carolina’s tobacco fields. “I worked 10 to 12 hours a day, five days a week in the Goldsboro area,” he told Truthout. “I had to get up at 4:30 am. A rusty van would come by, cram…

Conservative campaign rewriting child labor laws | The Gazette
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Conservative campaign rewriting child labor laws | The Gazette

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds passes out pens Thursday after signing a property tax cut bill at the Statehouse in Des Moines. She told reporters she would soon sign a bill that eases restrictions on employing children. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) When Iowa lawmakers last week gave final approval to roll back certain child labor protections, they…