The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and Department of Homeland Security announced a new initiative on Oct. 20 dedicated to combat human trafficking.

In a tweet, ICE announced that the Center for Countering Human Trafficking will provide a "whole-of-government response" to human trafficking as well as imported goods produced from forced labor.

The state-of-the-art CCHT will combine all DHS human trafficking functions in one place, said the DHS on its website. 

"By co-locating and augmenting existing DHS functions in a single, state-of-the-art center, it provides a 'whole of government' approach to combating these crimes and will allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to continue to lead the way in an integrated, victim-centered approach to the investigation of human trafficking," ICE states. "HSI has long been a leader in the global fight against transnational human trafficking organizations, using the full breadth of their criminal, immigration and trade-based authorities to proactively identify, disrupt and dismantle cross-border human trafficking organizations and minimize the risk they pose to the national security and public safety of the U.S."

Staff at the CCHT will include personnel from 16 DHS offices and include victim support and intelligence research specialists, special agents and other human trafficking experts.

“The criminal organizations involved in human trafficking profit by targeting and exploiting our most vulnerable populations,” said CCHT Interim Director Angie M. Salazar on ICE's announcement. “I am excited to lead DHS’ effort to combat these global criminal organizations, protect victims and provide worldwide training to increase awareness and prevention of these heinous crimes.”

In Fiscal Year 2020, DHS reported statistics of human trafficking included 1,120 criminal arrests, 545 cases initiated, 504 indictments and 188 convictions, while 248 victims of human trafficking were assisted and/or identified.