Project Report
| Apr 15, 2024
Gangs and Trafficking
By Wendy Hanson | VP for Community Impact
Gangs are life for many individuals living in vulnerable communities. If you are born into gang life there may be limited options and opportunities to live outside the influence of the gang. The link between gangs and trafficking is complex but the factors common to individual involvement in either are the same. Factors such as instability in the home or family, history of abuse, involvement with law enforcement, drug or alcohol use and poor school attendance or performance are all risk factors for both victims of trafficking and gang involvement.
This month we worked to cohost a town hall to bring together over sixty law enforcement officers, educators and community members to discuss the need of gangs and girls in our community. Understanding the risk and experiences of gang involved youth will assist us to improve our collective response to survivors of trafficking, safety plans and the long-term recovery for these individuals.
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Dec 19, 2023
Supporting Survivors
By Wendy Hanson | VP for Community Impact
Supporting Survivors of Human Trafficking takes many forms, from the day-to-day support needed to meet their basic needs like food and shelter to the ongoing mental health support that is required for survivors to thrive. Support for Survivors includes educating the community so that when cases are brought to court, justice is served. This quarter United Way hosted two training courses for Law Enforcement Professionals in Cameron County. We know that we will never put human traffickers out of business without prosecuting them to the full extent of the law and disassembling their business model. The trainings helped law enforcement understand how to build cases against human traffickers, understand the information needed to build a case and gave them tips and techniques for investigating these cases in the hopes of disabling the entire trafficking network instead of just one perpetrator.
Gifts to GlobalGiving supported eleven trafficked survivors who testified at the sentencing of their traffickers this month. The voices of the survivors and work done by the legal team resulted in financial restitution to the survivors ($840,000) and jail time (360 months) for the traffickers. One small victory on a survivors long journey.
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Aug 21, 2023
Workers' Rights
By Wendy Hanson | VP for Community Impact
Our community has seen over 15,000 immigrants cross the border into our community over the past few months. This is 15 times the number we usually serve. These folks are vulnerable to traffickers. Few have more than the cloths on their backs. Their needs are great-food, shelter, cloths, and jobs. They are easy prey for all kinds of schemes and scams.
Employers from all over the country have shown up to offer them jobs, housing and food. Some of the offers are legitimate but most seek to take advantage of the percarious situation of these immigrants.
Every worker has rights in the United States regardless of their immigration status. Every worker has the right to:
- Be paid at or above the minimum wage established by the law
- A safe and healthy workplace and freedom to leave the job if they want
- Keep immigration and identification documents with you
- Complain without fear of retaliation against you or your family
- Defend yourself if your labor rights are violated
- Have control of your own body, free from harrassment or obligation for sex
Our community is working hard to ensure vulnerable people have their basic needs met. Educating vulnerable populations about their rights as workers is the responsibility of all of us.
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