The vast majority of the individuals arrested in last week’s multi-state human trafficking brothel bust were illegal immigrants, Breitbart News has learned.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 20 of the 29 people arrested Thursday on on sex trafficking charges are in the country unlawfully. Seven are lawful permanent residents and two are U.S. citizens.
Late last week U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led an operation targeting a human trafficking operation that smuggled women from Central America and Mexico into the U.S. to work in brothels across the southeast.
“This investigation identified women victimized through fraud, force and coercion, including underage teens,” Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta Nick S. Annan said in a statement. “To the criminals behind these illegal enterprises, these women are just pieces of meat used to pull a quick profit and then discarded or passed on to the next trafficker down the line.”
The investigation lead to arrests 13 cities and eight states. The indictment was filed in Georgia and charges six with “conspiracy to participate in the sex trafficking of a minor.” Thirty-eight suspects have been charged with “conspiracy to transport a person in interstate commerce for prostitution” and three “customers” have been charged with promoting prostitution. Nine suspects remain at large.
Along with the 29 arrests, agents also identified 15 people believed to be trafficking victims who are being assisted by HSI with medical attention, food and shelter. According to ICE, such victims may qualify for a T-visa granted to trafficking victims who assist with the investigation or prosecution.
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