The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas has marked National Human Trafficking Prevention Month by reaffirming its commitment to combating human trafficking and supporting victims. The office joins the Departments of Justice (DOJ) and Homeland Security (DHS) in intensifying efforts to disrupt trafficking networks, protect vulnerable individuals, and bring traffickers to justice.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “This Department of Justice is working tirelessly alongside our partners to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors, and protect vulnerable populations from being exploited. Under this administration we have seen an increase in human trafficking prosecutions, and during Human Trafficking Prevention Month we reaffirm our commitment to prosecuting traffickers and encourage Americans to report instances of human trafficking in their communities.”
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem commented on the role of federal task forces: “Through the Homeland Security Task Force, President Trump is taking the fight directly to human trafficking networks and disrupting their modern-day slave trade while seizing their assets and arresting their kingpins and foot soldiers. The American people should not have to live in fear of cartels, gang bangers, and foreign terrorists preying upon the most vulnerable among us. The Homeland Security Task Force is the largest coordinated campaign against transnational criminal organizations in U.S. history, and I’m proud to co-lead it with Attorney General Bondi.”
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized cooperation among agencies: “During Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the FBI reiterates our work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and national victim-based advocacy groups in joint task forces to protect our communities across the country. The horrifying reach of human trafficking spreads far and wide. Homeland Security Task Forces are fighting back to disrupt these perilous networks and put a stop to that reach. The FBI will continue our investigations and bring justice to those exploited by human traffickers.”
U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser highlighted misconceptions about human trafficking: “Oftentimes Hollywood movie culture reinforces myths that human trafficking exists only in a dark, underground world. The truth is that forced labor victims work in restaurants, cleaning services, construction sites, factories, and in private homes as domestic servants. Stopping these crimes requires knowing the signs of human trafficking and also dispelling misconceptions that make us less perceptive and dismissive when we should see red flags. All this helps us catch and prosecute the traffickers.”
In January 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14159 which directed DOJ and DHS leaders to establish Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) across all states. These task forces aim to eliminate criminal cartels, gangs, transnational criminal organizations involved in smuggling or trafficking—especially cases involving children—and enforce immigration laws.
Since January 20, 2025, the District of Kansas U.S. Attorney’s Office has secured convictions against six former cult members for conspiracy related to exploiting minors through forced labor; five received prison sentences.
In January 2026, DHS and DOJ increased resources for anti-trafficking efforts by prioritizing operations at numerous federal locations—with special attention on border states—coordinating with FBI squads for victim recovery efforts; partnering with AMTRAK and FAMS for awareness campaigns; running advertisements about restitution funds recovered from Backpage; distributing additional victim restitution through DOL-OIG; organizing outreach events at educational institutions highlighting HSTF roles.
On August 25, 2025 HSTF began a nationwide operation called September Surge which led over 43 days to more than 3,200 arrests—including members from Sinaloa Cartel (1,041), CJNG (856), MS-13 (641), Tren de Aragua (456)—as well as seizures of weapons (1,067), currency exceeding $3 million dollars ($3,250,000), approximately 91 metric tons of narcotics.
