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LANSING, Mich. (News 10) – Advocates, survivors and state leaders gathered in Lansing to address human trafficking in Michigan. Officials said the state has made progress on the issue, but gaps remain in protecting survivors and holding offenders accountable.
“Human trafficking could happen to anyone, anywhere at any time,” Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said.
Michigan ranks in top 10 nationally
Melissa Palepu, chair of the Michigan Human Trafficking Commission and Assistant Attorney General, said Michigan ranks in the top 10 nationally for human trafficking.
“There’s like 600 and some tips that come out of Michigan. But that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. And so, and literally, it’s just the tip. And we all know that the iceberg, the bulk of it is underwater, right? It’s unknown,” Palepu said.
“Here’s the thing, like, we can study these issues all day, every day. But if we’re not changing the laws, then we’re not helping people,” Nessel said.
Bipartisan bills stalled in state House
Nessel is pushing a bipartisan package of bills to crack down on traffickers. The state Senate unanimously approved the measures in January, but they remain stalled in the state House.
“There’s no reason to sit on these bills. We are so close to getting them passed. And I asked Speaker Hall, I asked the House of Representatives, why not pass these very important and very popular bills? It’s time,” Nessel said.
The bills would increase current penalties for human trafficking from a 10-year offense to a 20-year offense.
Mandatory education in schools
Nessel is also calling for mandatory human trafficking education in Michigan schools. Commission leaders said prevention starts with awareness.
“And honestly, if you don’t educate people, then they won’t be able to spot human trafficking. They won’t know what to do if they do spot trafficking. So, if we educate and bring awareness of what human trafficking is, then people will not be scared of it, not be scared to talk about the topic,” Palepu said.
“Would you rather have our kids learn about a sanitized version of the horrors of human trafficking in a classroom, or experience the real thing as a victim themselves?” Nessel said.
How to protect yourself and family
Palepu said the best way to protect yourself and your family from human trafficking is through education. She said it is important to be aware of your surroundings and to monitor who your kids are communicating with online.
Michigan has its own human trafficking hotline. Anyone who is a victim of human trafficking or knows someone who is can call 855-864-2374 (855-VOICES-4) to get connected with resources.
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