Legislators target human trafficking
While the case, which arose last November, didn't rise to the level of federal human trafficking charges, it came close, said Melodie Rydalch, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney for Utah.
It resulted in a federal eight-count indictment and a 42-month prison sentence for Martina Ernestina Gutierrez, the longest federal sentence in Utah for an illegal alien conviction, Rydalch said. Gutierrez's husband, Armando Gutierrez-Valencia is awaiting sentencing.
While Utah hasn't yet seen a federal trafficking case, those that come close have prosecutors wondering how deep the problem of human trafficking is in Utah, and some state lawmakers wondering if state legislation is needed to complement the federal Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000.
Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, is bringing the matter before the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee on Wednesday.
"The bottom line is this is nothing more than modern-day slavery," Litvack said. "Given our legacy in the United States and our own history with slavery ... the impact is carried across generations ... we cannot pretend this doesn't exist."
"We need to go hard after the perpetrator," said Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, who would likely be willing to co-sponsor any legislation that results from Litvack's efforts. Rep. Jackie Biskupski, D-Salt Lake, has also looked at the issue.
A recent United Nations Population Fund report on "Women and International Migration" cites U.S. Department of State numbers that 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year in a modern-day slave trade that generates an estimated $7 to $12 billion annually.
The majority of the victims are women and as many as half are children, the report said. Trafficked women are usually forced into prostitution, commercial marriages, or occupations such as domestic work or sweatshop labor.
"There is a tremendous problem with trafficking women and young children in poverty," said Maria Jose Alcala, the report's lead author. "They might promise the family will be able to benefit from the jobs they're promised. In many cases girls are sent voluntarily, in other cases they're duped. ... Most often they become sexual slaves."
The extent of the trafficking problem in Utah isn't known, largely because of the fear involved, said Susan Ritter, director of the Utah Health and Human Rights Project. Many victims have been threatened with retaliation against their families, she said.
You can be the first to comment on this story.