As a large and diverse city that continues to grow in population with people immigrating daily, Houston has become a hub for human trafficking. Annually, 18,000 people are trafficked into the US, many of which are directed to Houston, an ABC 13 broadcast said.
The Houston Chronicle reported that just Tuesday,an ongoing sex-trafficking ring conducted by Gerardo “El Gallo” Salazar came to an end when Mexican authorities arrested him. He was said to have been accused of using beatings, threats and rape to force young immigrant women into slavery in Houston. These women were said to have been locked in apartments and homes during the day and sold repeatedly in cantinas at night, sometimes for as little as $50. Salazar was arrested in his hometown outside of Mexico City on counterfeit charges initially and later confessed to being wanted in Houston. However, he will likely be subject to a request for extradition to Houston to face charges that include sexual assault of a child and sex trafficking. For five long years, Salazar had been a fugitive.
Also, Khou.com and ABC 13 reported last month that Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents charged 23 people and shut down 14 businesses for allegedly trafficking hundreds of undocumented immigrants for cash. The owners allegedly made more than $650 per person while holding them against their will in stash houses.
“The companies would pay commissions to smugglers to bring in smuggled aliens to them,” John Morton, Assistant Secretary of Homeland security for ICE, said in the ABC 13 interview. “They would also buy and trade passengers on commission between each other.”
Two-hundred and nine undocumented immigrants were discovered with some in an area guarded with weapons, pit bulls and surveillance cameras.
In an attempt to combat this growing problem the Houston community suffers, the Star-Telegram has reported a new state task force that will take a stand against human traffickers. Attorney General Greg Abbott in the article said The Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force will coordinate, fortify and expand law enforcement tools to prosecute traffickers and help better identify victims of “modern-day slavery.” It will connect investigations and intelligence throughout the state.
