Human Trafficking
Texas is a hub for international human trafficking because of its many busy interstate highways, international airports, countless bus stations, the shipping commerce through the Gulf of Mexico, and its shared border with Mexico.
January 27th, 2015
When many people hear about human trafficking, you think about something that doesn't happen here in America; it happens somewhere else.You might envision brothels in foreign cities or girls being smuggled across other...
December 22nd, 2014
Congressman Poe holds Human Trafficking panel in HoustonAs the 113th Congress comes to a close, here's a brief wrap up of some of my legislative accomplishments over the last two years:
August 30th, 2014
I hope y'all are enjoying the last few weeks of summer as August draws to a close and a new school year begins (and of course, a new football season too). This month, I’ve traveled across our district meeting with...
July 28th, 2014
Last Wednesday, during the House debate on HR 5081, the Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act of 2014, I spoke on the floor in order to support this bill that helps identify and protects the victims of...
July 24th, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC—This week the House of Representatives sent a clear, bipartisan message that America’s children are not for sale by passing a number of bills dealing with child trafficking. However, not a single one of those...
July 21st, 2014
Governor Rick Perry is expected to announce at a press conference in Austin this afternoon that he will be mobilizing Texas National Guard troops to the border. A memo obtained by The Monitor states that troops are...
July 14th, 2014
A Houston man now faces up to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for his conviction on charges related to trafficking of minor girls for prostitution. The charges involve the trafficking of at least three girls...
July 9th, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8OdenyUSCQWho exactly is to blame for the current surge in Central Americans crossing the southern border? There are the obvious reasons: violence and poverty in El Salvador, Honduras and...
July 3rd, 2014
Attorney General Greg Abbott announced the release of a Human Trafficking Prevention Manual that is targeted to teachers and other education professionals who will be facing an onslaught of potential victims in this coming...
May 28th, 2014
Unfortunately, human trafficking is a growing criminal activity that occurs outside of the public’s eye and is too often ignored. An estimated 100,000 children are sold in the sex trade in the United States each year. No...
January 13th, 2015
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today introduced the bipartisan Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which would empower law enforcement to further...
September 18th, 2014
The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved legislation I sponsored to boost support for and protection of victims of human trafficking by increasing law enforcement resources, enhancing victims’ services and increasing...
August 8th, 2014
BASTROP – Now that Congress is on recess following an ugly meltdown over immigration and border security last week, lawmakers in Texas and around the country are diving into the time-honored...
July 25th, 2014
A San Antonio man was convicted on July 23 for his role in a prostitution ring that involved at least two under-aged girls. The man is the second person to be convicted in this scheme which resulted in federal charges being...
July 23rd, 2014
“If there is no national security you cannot have that without border security.” - Gov. Rick PerryTexas Governor Rick Perry held a Press Conference on July 21, 2014, and in case you missed it, I am providing a link...
July 16th, 2014
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and I authored the following op-ed today in The Houston Chronicle:It is no secret that we come from different political parties and differ on many issues. But we are Texans and we know that...
July 14th, 2014
WASHINGTON— Tomorrow U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security, and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, a member of the House...
July 7th, 2014
I spoke on the Senate floor today on the humanitarian crisis at the border and urged President Obama to visit the border during his upcoming trip to Texas. I recently visited McAllen, Texas myself a week ago today, and it is...
June 10th, 2014
Recently, I questioned Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson as part of a Judiciary Committee hearing to conduct oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). My colleagues and I covered a host of issues, but...
May 22nd, 2014
HOUSTON,Texas—The U.S. House of Representatives passed a series of bills on Tuesday attacking various aspects of our national problem of human trafficking. Texas is currently one of the nation’s hubs for human trafficking...