DeSantis approves laws to fight human trafficking.

Florida Governor Takes Action to Combat Human Trafficking

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is taking a strong stance against human trafficking in the state. In a recent ceremony at Coastal Community Church in Lighthouse Point, DeSantis signed four bills aimed at cracking down on this heinous crime.

Tougher Penalties and Expanded Outreach

The bills include provisions to toughen penalties for traffickers, expand public awareness outreach to halfway houses and foster homes, and extend laws to cover businesses such as hotels and strip clubs that may benefit from it. These measures are crucial in the fight against human trafficking, which primarily affects women and children.

The Southern Border Connection

DeSantis tied the problem to the troubled southern border and the failed border control policies of President Joe Biden’s administration. He quoted from the most recent report of a statewide grand jury he asked the Florida Supreme Court to impanel last year, which found that the federal government is facilitating the forced migration, sale, and abuse of foreign children.

The grand jury discovered that more than a quarter of a million unaccompanied alien minors entered the United States since January 2021. DeSantis called the system “rotten” and said it’s causing harm to a lot of people.

Victims Can Sue Adult Entertainment Establishments

One bill, Senate Bill 7064, allows victims of human trafficking to sue to recover damages from adult entertainment establishments. It also increases penalties for adult entertainment establishments that exploit minors and allows victims to receive restitution when traffickers’ assets are seized and sold.

A Survivor’s Story

Human trafficking survivor and advocate Savannah Parvu spoke at the ceremony and shared her story. Parvu described how she was sold by her mother’s drug dealer at the age of 11 and continued to be trafficked even after being placed in foster care.

“We need to do everything we can to stop this from happening to other children,” Parvu said.

Conclusion

Human trafficking is a $150 billion illegal enterprise that affects millions of people around the world. With the signing of these bills, Florida is taking an important step in the right direction to put human traffickers out of business and into jail. Let’s continue to raise awareness about this issue and work together to end it.