El Paso International Airport joins federal agencies to help stop human trafficking

EL PASO, Texas — The El Paso International Airport is partnering with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the Blue Lightning Initiative to help stop human trafficking. 

The Blue Lightning Initiative is under DHS’s Blue Campaign which raises awareness of human trafficking. DHS, along with the FBI, Department of Transportation and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will teach airport staff the signs of human trafficking. 

“(Here) in the City of El Paso we have the airport and the… ports of entry. We want to do our part in terms of raising awareness of what to look for when it comes to human trafficking,” said Monica Lombrana, chief operations and transportation officer for El Paso International Airport. 

Human trafficking is a highly profitable crime, which violates human rights. According to the FBI, 1,900 human trafficking cases have been opened since Nov. 2019. 

There are three types of human trafficking according to the DHS: sex trafficking, forced labor, and domestic servitude. 

According DHS, sex trafficking victims are forced into sex acts for money.  Through force, fraud or coercion, forced labor victims are made to work with little or no pay. victims of domestic servitude are hidden in plain sight, forced to work in homes across the country.

“Across the nation, human trafficking is a hidden crime that we’re still trying to be able to identify victims,” said Beverly Good, El Paso port director for CBP. 

“I think it’s very important that we get the community involved because they are basically our eyes and ears,” said FBI Special Agent Minerva Shelton.

Here are some signs to look out for: someone could have no control of their documents, no freedom to interact, trouble articulating travel plans, or signs of a non genuine relationship. 

For more information the Blue Campaign, click here. For more information on the Blue Lightning Initiative, click here.