You wouldn’t want to vote for an elected official that is not faithfully executing the duties of the office of the State of Texas right? Of course not. March 1, 2022 the Primary Election is right around the corner. I hope voters will use their time wisely to find out about the candidate that is willing to the best of their ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State.
January is known as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. We can all do our part to educate ourselves about human trafficking and learn to spot the signs of trafficking. It is also important to learn what has your elected officials been doing to address the Texas crisis that is flooding into our state.
Sec. 7. GOVERNOR AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF MILITARY FORCES. He shall be Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the State, except when they are called into actual service of the United States. He shall have power to call forth the militia to execute the laws of the State, to suppress insurrections, and to repel invasions. (source: Texas Constitution)
In the last few years our border went from a trickle to a substantial amount of migrants flowing through our southern border. Also, there has been a massive influx of drugs, cartel control and property damage. The migrant encounters along the border according to Customs Border Patrol (CBP) reports:
• November 2021: 173,620
• November 2020: 72,113
• November 2019: 42,643
What is the fastest-growing criminal enterprise on earth?
Human trafficking inside the U.S. is a $38-50 billion dollar industry.
1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children.
– Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage, Geneva, September 2017
Signs of Human Trafficking
Signs are not always obvious to the untrained eye. However, there are some indicators that may serve as tips, particularly when they appear in a combination. If you suspect something of an individual report it to your Sheriff’s office and Texas Attorney General:
- Lacks control of identification documents or travel documents
- Lives and works in the same place
- Lacks freedom of movement
- Seems to be restricted from socializing, attending religious services or contacting family
- Seems to have been deprived of basic life necessities, such as food, water, sleep or medical care
- Shows signs of having been abused or physically assaulted. Such signs range from the more obvious, such as broken bones, to the more subtle, such as branding or tattooing
- Seems submissive or fearful in the presence of others
- Seems not to control his or her schedule
- Seems to lack concrete short- or long-term plans
- Seems to lack knowledge about the place where he or she lives
- Appears to date much older, abusive or controlling men.
You may not see this happening right outside your front door or within your community. It does exist and the monster is oozing into the political arena. It is so important to know who you are supporting and voting for locally, statewide and federally. We need representatives that will not fold to political pressure when it comes to this crisis and to provide the resources needed to give hope to the hopeless. You may never meet a victim, but we can hold our elected officials accountable.
Does Texas Need To Ask Permission To Secure Our Border?
Texas does not need to wait for a presidential administration to give our state approval to repel invasions. Where is our Texas Governor and what is he doing about the southern border crisis? Review the reports from the Customs Border Patrol (CBP). Don’t be fooled into political pandering. Ask tough questions of those running for re-election. If they are not doing the work then consider another candidate that addresses this as a priority. Read what you can do to replace politicians with patriots.
• Is your District Attorney prosecuting human traffickers or child predators?
• Are the statutes/penal codes helping law enforcement be better trained to detect and respond appropriately, and/or systems developed to help the victims?
• Are Judges presiding on various cases trained on human trafficking to spot victims? Do they offer support from nongovernmental victim-service providers in a multidisciplinary approach to identify human trafficking crimes, and/or assist human trafficking victims?
• Is your law enforcement agencies investigating and prosecuting cases of human trafficking?
• Are law enforcement agencies coordinating with victim service providers to meet the unique and diverse needs of trafficking victims?
To learn more of organizations involved in education, shop survivor made goods, accepting donations, rescuing, freedom centers, training and/or rehabilitation:
Trafficking Victims Protection Act
Vets4ChildRescue
Ukraine: Mission 823
Refuge for Women North Texas
International: Get to know A21
