Post on 17-Dec-2015
Gerardo Chavez Director for the Americas ICE Office of International Affairs
Guatemala
Legislation of the United States of America
Smuggling of Persons and Trafficking in Persons
2Office of Investigations
Smuggling Vs. Trafficking
3Office of Investigations
Smuggling of Migrants
Introduction of persons into the United States through deliberate evasion of migration laws. In addition to the illegal introduction of persons into the United States, this crime includes illicit transportation or hiding of illegal persons who already are in US territory.
4Office of Investigations
Trafficking in PersonsTrafficking for sexual exploitation where commercial sex is induced through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, or if the person induced to perform such act is under 18 years of age; or,
Recruiting, hiding, transporting, facilitating, or obtaining a person to perform a task or service, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, with the aim of submitting him/her to involuntary servitude or slavery.
5Office of Investigations
Smuggling vs. Trafficking
One of the biggest global challenges is making a correct distinction among both crimes
Smuggling of persons can involve elements of violence
The presence of these aggravating circumstances alone does not constitute Trafficking in Persons
Elements are force, fraud, or coercion with purposes of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor
6Office of Investigations
Legislation of the United States of America
Smuggling of Persons
7Office of Investigations
General PerspectiveThe Crime and Its Elements
I.Smuggling of Persons Elements
Sanctions
II.Related Crimes
III.Material Support of Foreign Terrorist Organizations
8Office of Investigations
Smuggling of PersonsTitle 8 of the US Code, Section 1324
1.Illegally bringing persons to a place which has not been designated as Port of Entry into the United States
2.Transporting illegal persons in the United States
3.Harboring or hiding illegal persons in the United States
4.Instigating or inducing illegal persons to enter the United States
5.Bringing illegal persons into the United States
6.Attempt
7.Conspiracy
8.Complicity / Facilitating perpetration of the crime
9Office of Investigations
Bringing them to a place which has not been designated as Point of Entry into the US
Title 8 of the US Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(i)
Knowingly bringing an illegal person to the United States
In any way
To a place which has not been designated as Port of Entry into the United States
Knowing the person’s illegal status
Fraud / Intention of committing the crime (9th. Circuit)
10Office of Investigations
Transporting Illegal Persons in the United StatesTitle 8 of the US Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii)
Knowingly transferring or transporting an illegal person
Negligently knowing or not knowing the person’s illegal status
To a place which has not been designated as Port of Entry into the US
Following up on the illegal presence of the person in the US
11Office of Investigations
Concealing or hiding illegal persons in the US
Knowingly harboring, hiding, or protecting an illegal person so that he/she is not discovered
Negligently knowing or not knowing that the person has entered the US in an illegal fashion
Carrying out actions which tend to facilitate the presence of an illegal person in the US
Title 8 of the US Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(iii)
12Office of Investigations
Instigate or InduceTitle 8 of the US Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)
Knowingly instigating or inducing a person to illegally travel to, enter, or reside in the US
Negligently knowing or not knowing the fact that the person’s entry into the US would be illegal
The Accused only needs to “Help or Advise” the illegal The Accused only needs to “Help or Advise” the illegal person. person. U.S. Vs. U.S. Vs. He, 245 F. 3er 954 (7mo Circ. 2001)He, 245 F. 3er 954 (7mo Circ. 2001)
13Office of Investigations
Bringing illegal persons to the US to make a profitTitle 8 of the US Code, Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)
Knowingly bringing illegal persons into the US
Negligently knowing or not knowing the fact that the person has not been authorized to travel to, enter, or reside in the US
Committing the crime for commercial or monetary profit
Fraud / Intention to commit the crime (9th. Circuit)
14Office of Investigations
ConspiracyTitle 8 of the US Code, Section 1324(a)(2)(A)(v)(I) – Title 18 of the US Code, Section 371
Illegal agreement between two or more persons
Knowing and voluntarily participating in the agreement
Obvious acts by the conspirator to follow up on the agreement
15Office of Investigations
Facilitate Perpetration of the CrimeTitle 8 of the US Code, Section 2
Knowingly transferring or transporting an illegal person
Negligently knowing or not knowing the person’s illegal status
To a place which has not been designated as a Point of Entry into the US
Following up on the illegal person’s presence in the US
16Office of Investigations
AttemptTitle 8 of the US Code, Section 1324(a) y (b)
Acting with the mental state required to commit the crime. For example, knowingly bringing, knowingly hiding, etc.
Participating in behavior which constitutes a substantial step toward committing the crime
A “Substantial Step” is more than preparation and less A “Substantial Step” is more than preparation and less than perpetration.than perpetration.
17Office of Investigations
Highest Sanctions
5 - 20 years in prison
Up to US $250,000 in fines
Up to 3 years of probation
If any casualty occurs the sanction may be death penalty or a life sentence
18Office of Investigations
Minimum Sanctions Stipulated by Law
Bringing persons to make a profit
1 - 2 illegal persons = 3 years in prison
3 or more illegal persons = 5 years in prison
Title 8 of the US Code, Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)
19Office of Investigations
Case StudyTrafficking in Persons
20Office of Investigations
Operation PandaICE New York Office
ICE, FBI, NY Police Department
Five violent Chinese gangs established in NY, involved in:
Murder attempt
Illegal bets
Smuggling of Persons
Money laundering
Extortion
Falsified products
21Office of Investigations
Operation PandaICE New York Office
Imported falsified Chinese merchandise in large containers
False declaration of the merchandise as food
Smugglers used multiple bureaus de change in NY to structure money transfers (less than US $10,000)
In addition, they used an alternative remittance system known as “Goushens”
22Office of Investigations
Operation PandaICE New York Office
Members of the gang are from the Province of Fujian, China
They smuggled Chinese nationals across the Mexican/US border
They used violence as an intimidation strategy
Chinese nationals were kept hostage until the debt for their transportation (smuggling) had been paid off
23Office of Investigations
Operation Panda
100 or more individuals processed under the following charges: Title 18 of the US Code, Section 1962 – Extortion and Conspiracy to Extort
Title 18 of the US Code, Section 1959 – Perpetrating Violent Crimes to Facilitate Extortion
Title 18 of the US Code, Section 894 – Obtaining Credit through Extortion
Title 18 of the US Code, Section 1203 – Taking Hostage
Title 18 of the US Code, Section 1956 – International Money Laundering
Title 18 of the US Code, Section 1324 – Smuggling of Persons
Title 18 of the US Code, Section 1955 – Illegal Bets
Title 18 of the US Code, Section 2320 – Smuggling Falsified Products
Confiscations 2 weapons
US $150,000
Falsified merchandise with a commercial value of more than US $16 million
Results
24Office of Investigations
Legislation of the United States of America
Trafficking in Persons
25Office of Investigations
US Legislation on Trafficking in Persons
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA)
Prosecutorial Remedies and other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today Act (PROTECT Act) of 2003
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (TVPRA 2003)
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (TVPRA 2005)
26Office of Investigations
Trafficking for sexual exploitation where a commercial sexual act is induced through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, or if the person induced to perform such act is under 18 years of age; or,
Recruiting, hiding, transporting, facilitating, or obtaining a person to perform a task or service, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion, with the aim of subjecting them to involuntary servitude or slavery.
Definition of Trafficking in Persons
Trafficking Victim Protection Act (TVPA)
27Office of Investigations
Prison sentences have been increased to 10 - 20 years.
Life sentence is possible when death, kidnapping, or aggravated sexual abuse of a victim occurs as well.
Increasing Sentences
Trafficking Victim Protection Act (TVPA)
28Office of Investigations
Victims of Trafficking in Persons with an illegal status in the US are treated as victims
Programs have been established to assist victims, including immigration resources
Benefits which have been provided to refugees are also provided to victims of Trafficking in Persons who wish to provide support in processes against those who trafficked them
Focus on the Victim as a Central Element
Trafficking Victim Protection Act (TVPA)
29Office of Investigations
Was the person retained in order to render services to another person – sexual favors or work – or recruited or transported to be retained for these purposes?
Was the service obtained from the victim through the use of force, threats, psychological manipulation, or confiscation of his/her legal identity documents?
Threshold with two Aspects
The Crime of Trafficking in Persons
30Office of Investigations
Recruiting, hiding, transporting, facilitating, or obtaining a person through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of a commercial sexual act, or if the person being induced to perform such act is under 18 years of age
Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation
The Crime of Trafficking in Persons
31Office of Investigations
Facilitating or obtaining labor or services from a person through:
Threats to cause serious harm to that person or another person;
Any scheme, plan, or pattern which places the victim in a situation of fear of suffering serious harm; or
Misuse of – or threat to misuse – legal procedures
Forced Labor
The Crime of Trafficking in Persons
32Office of Investigations
Retaining a victim’s identity documents, authentic or presumably authentic, during the course of perpetration of the crime of Trafficking in Persons.
Servitude through Retention of Identity Documents
The Crime of Trafficking in Persons
33Office of Investigations
Force
Fraud
Coercion
Terms
The Crime of Trafficking in Persons
34Office of Investigations
Physical Evidence
Physical force is NOT required
Psychological coercion
Elements of Non-Defense
Consent to be trafficked
Consent to initially perform an illegal act
Special Provisions
Trafficking Victim Protection Act (TVPA)
35Office of Investigations
Attempt
Focus on the perpetrator’s attempt
Burden shifted away from the victim
Can be sanctioned in the same manner as the complete crime of Trafficking in Persons
Special Provisions
Trafficking Victim Protection Act (TVPA)
36Office of Investigations
Victim Protection
Services for the victim
Special immigration services
Special Provisions
Trafficking Victim Protection Act (TVPA)
37Office of Investigations
“Reauthorizes” the Trafficking Victim Protection Act.
Adds responsibilities to the efforts implemented by the US Government to combat Trafficking:
Information campaigns to combat sexual tourism
Refining Federal Criminal Law
Creates civil action for victims to sue their traffickers
Obligation to report the deed
Special Provisions
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003 (2003 TVPRA)
38Office of Investigations
Prosecutorial Remedies and other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today Act (PROTECT Act) of 2003
PROTECT Act
39Office of Investigations
Extensive prohibition against sexual tourism
More severe sentences (Up to 30 years for being involved in sexual tourism)
Victim protection is added
PROTECT Act
40Office of Investigations
Persons who arrive in the US to participate in illicit actions
Sexual tour operators
Any US citizen who travels abroad to participate in sexual tourism
PROTECT Act
41Office of Investigations
Case StudyTrafficking in Persons
42Office of Investigations
MaksimenkoICE Detroit Office
Investigation led by ICE, initiated in 2005 because of reports by two trafficking victims
The main suspect is the Vice-President of “Beauty Search, Inc.”
Managed exotic dancers from Eastern Europe
Smuggled and forced victims to work in strip clubs to pay for their transportation (smuggling) and other fees
43Office of Investigations
Maksimenko The System – Coercion Measures
Confiscating passports / identity documents
Imposition of debts of up to US $25,000.
Keeping victims in social/linguistic isolation
Imposition of “rules” to isolate women
Interrogatories, monetary sanctions, rough physical treatment, intimidation, threats of violence, and displaying firearms
44Office of Investigations
Maksimenko The System – Coercion Measures
Periodic inspections of women’s apartments while they were working
Microphones/recorders placed in women’s apartments to listen to and tape their conversations
Telling stories – real or fictitious – of women who were abused in the past
Treats of prison and deportation
45Office of Investigations
MaksimenkoICE Detroit Office Eight people were arrested
and processed under charges of Forced Labor, Visa Fraud, Smuggling of Persons, Money Laundering, and Extortion
ICE agents executed numerous search orders which resulted in the confiscation of two firearms, two vehicles, and more than US $500,000, most of which were located in multiple safety deposit boxes
46Office of Investigations
Conclusion
Strengthen both our statutes and authorities in order to arrest and dismantle criminal organizations
Global collaboration is required to defeat smugglers and traffickers at a global level
Money is the main artery of criminal organizations – let’s take away the financial incentive from them
Make every possible effort to locate and rescue men, women, and children who are victimized by smugglers and traffickers
Gerardo Chavez Director for the Americas ICE Office of International Affairs
Guatemala
Legislation of theUnited States of America
Smuggling of Persons and Trafficking in Persons