In recent years, FIC was proud to join other advocates to seek stronger protections against human trafficking in Connecticut; those efforts paid off with the passage of H.B. 5666.

Putting more teeth in our anti-trafficking laws was an important victory, but as we previously wrote, “The fight against that anti-family scourge will continue in a myriad of ways for many years to come.” That is apparent from an article that appeared in the Waterbury Republican-American earlier this week about the task force being formed by municipal police departments around the state. U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Deirdre M. Daly says:

“We have learned that traffickers themselves may believe it’s cheaper to operate in Connecticut, and they believe there’s increasing demand in Connecticut.”

Rightly or wrongly, that’s the impression modern slave traders have of our state. We’d love to see that turned around so they rightly believe that doing their sordid “business” in Connecticut will cost them dearly in terms of justice served, and that it’s not worth the risk.

Making that a reality will require great cooperation from legislators, law enforcement, non-governmental organizations, and — definitely not least — churches and people of faith. Two groups working to eradicate trafficking in Connecticut are New Haven-based Love146, mentioned in the article, and The Underground; in early November, toward the same goal, Grace Farms Foundation brought together a panel of experts for a seminar in New Canaan. We applaud the formation of the task force, another step toward eliminating these abhorrent crimes.