Focus reform on human trafficking

Contrary to what we read and hear about the situation at our southern border, the real issue is the proliferation of human trafficking. Illegal immigration is a symptom of this grave problem.

Human trafficking is another illicit enterprise of organized crime, foreign gangs and drug cartels to infiltrate our society. It preys on the innocent who are seeking a better life in America. At the same time, using the innocent as pawns, human trafficking allows criminals to get lost in the process and enter our country illegally. Once in, they set up operations (or provide foot soldiers to established criminal gangs) in our urban neighborhoods. Often, even the innocent are caught up in this by becoming indentured servants to the gang leaders or cartels who brought them in illegally.

Human trafficking is insidious as it denies the dignity of the human person and treats human beings as chattel in a criminal enterprise. If we are to succeed in protecting our society from the evil impacts of human trafficking, we must implement laws and strategies that will eradicate it.

It is my hope and expectation that the new administration under President-elect Trump, with the assistance of all levels of government in the United States, will take up this challenge and focus our border policy on eliminating human trafficking so that we can feel confident that the people who seek a new life in our country are doing so for the betterment of themselves and their family and can be welcomed in a way that is conducive to maintaining a free and safe society.

Peter Gennuso

Schaumburg