SE Minnesota News

The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) drew a connection between children in welfare systems and their risk for human trafficking – an issue in which Texas has the second-highest rates in the country.  

When speaking with local political and spiritual leaders from across the country, Lisa M. Kremer OFS, a parishioner from southern Minnesota, spoke primarily toward education and community engagement as she provided insight on what communities can do to combat these dangers.  

“I recommend that people seek to educate themselves using resources from the USCCB, CRS, Catholic Charities USA and other reliable organizations and publications," Kremer said.

These resources help underline the magnitude of trafficking within the U.S. In a recent report, the TPPF outlined the $150 billion industry of human trafficking, which has not only affected over 25 million victims, but has been declared a public health issue in Texas in 2019. 

In addition to self-education, Kremer also drew on the responsibility of local leaders to provide platforms to these issues for their communities.

“Local leaders can educate by sponsoring such events and making the public more aware of the issues of trafficking. In the case of labor trafficking, many people are not well informed and may be unaware that these situations happen right in our midst," she said.

Lastly, Kremer called on members of the community to raise awareness and hold the community as a whole accountable.

“It is important that as people of faith, we care about these issues, and do all we can to make certain that people in danger are brought to safety. We need to promote all local efforts to offer services for those in need," Kremer said.

As the number of cases of human trafficking within the U.S. continues to rise, it will take a large coalition of community engagement as well as policy to effectively tackle this issue, which affects among the most vulnerable in our society.