National Human Trafficking Awareness month

WEST TEXAS, Texas (KOSA) -January is National Human Trafficking Awareness month and Texas ranks second within the United States for probably the most reported human trafficking circumstances.

According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Service, not all human trafficking victims are held bodily captive, however nonetheless aren’t free to depart their trafficker.

While it might not look like there are numerous circumstances in West Texas, it doesn’t imply they’re not occurring.

Something investigation supervisor for the DFPS, Vincent Hagman says is to look out to your children after they’re on social media.

“So really social media is the biggest place where children get lured into things like this so I would say to make sure to keep an eye on that,” mentioned Hagman.

Hagman says that in 2021, there have been 5 investigations in Ector and Midland county that concerned human trafficking.

He says once you see one thing uncommon like younger children standing by themselves, children trying scared or uncomfortable are at all times issues to be careful for.

Homeland Security Investigations Spokesperson, Leticia Zamarripa, says though there aren’t many circumstances in West Texas, it might be resulting from folks not reporting it.

“Just because we’re not seeing hundreds of them, doesn’t mean that it’s not happening,” mentioned Zamarripa.

Zamarripa says that HSI is at the moment investigating circumstances in West Texas which can be nonetheless happening.

She says that the habits of people is what folks must be careful for..

“Is this person able to move freely, is this person able to go to the store you know to walk around, or is it someone who is mostly kept indoors,” mentioned Zamarripa.

If you see something suspicious or wish to understand how else you possibly can assist, click on here.

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