Human Trafficking in America
In a massive, in-depth investigative report not often attempted by newspapers these days, Kansas City Star reporters and a photographer/videographer traveled the world, from Guatemalan migrant shelters to the deadly streets of Tijuana. They found that America is losing the battle — even in its own backyard. In fact, Kansas City is an emerging hub of human trafficking activity. The package includes five parts, each dealing with an aspect of the issue in video, photos, text and infographics.
CHANNEL: Kansas City Star
Reporters: Mike McGraw, Laura Bauer, Mark Morris
Video and photography: Keith Myers
Narration: Dave Eames
VIEW: http://www.kansascity.com/trafficking/
DAY 1: Human trafficking in America: A new slavery
Video: A New Slavery
Summary: Reporters discuss the key points of the investigation, noting that the unfortunate victims of human trafficking may be “your neighbor, your co-worker or your friend.” Immigrants are often heavily in debt to criminals who brought them here, and wind up virtual slaves — mistreated and threatened with their lives. Although the U.S. government has technically “declared war” on this practice, it is doing little to stop it, and frequently denies assistance to victims.
VIEW: http://videos.kansascity.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=7894573
Length: 3:43
SEE ALSO:
Story: U.S. system to find, help victims of human trafficking is broken
http://www.kansascity.com/944/story/1626936.html
Story: Hostage House, Part 1: Beginning a descent into despair
http://www.kansascity.com/944/story/1626970.html
Infographic: Coming to America
http://media.kansascity.com/smedia/2009/12/12/21/TraffickingPrimer.source.prod_affiliate.81.pdf
By: Dave Eames and Mark Morris
Graphic: A primer on human trafficking statistics, with a world map locating source of victims and reported incidences trafficking in the United States. Also includes helpful definitions, and warning signs to identify victims and how to report them.
Photo slide show: A New Slavery: Border Crossing (51 photos)
Photographer: Keith Myers
http://www.kansascity.com/1021/gallery/1620906.html
DAY 2: Snares of the Sex Trade
Video: Repeats from Day 1
SEE ALSO:
Story: Sex slavery: The desperate plight of many women
http://www.kansascity.com/959/story/1629003.html
Story: Hostage House, Part 2: A slave to time and money
Hostage House, Part 2: A slave to time and money
http://www.kansascity.com/959/story/1629021.html
Story: Determined prosecutor combats trafficking with novel tactics
http://www.kansascity.com/959/story/1629018.html
Story: Time after time, they run from squalor
http://www.kansascity.com/959/story/1629015.html
DAY 3: Fraud’s welcome mat
Video: Guatemala is one source of human trafficking
Summary: Guatemala, a country that is the poorest in the hemisphere, is one source of human trafficking. The video highlights the plight of Luis, a typically poor Guatemalan, who had worked illegally in the U.S. to earn money for his family, then was deported and lost it all. Extreme poverty in this country causes thousands of citizens to flee to the U.S. each year, and law enforcement is unable or unwilling to intervene.
VIEW: http://videos.kansascity.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=7894748
Length: 3:11
SEE ALSO:
Story: Work visa program is rife with problems
http://www.kansascity.com/922/story/1630974.html
Story: Hostage House, Part 3: Family link offers solace — and peril
http://www.kansascity.com/922/story/1630987.html
Story: Kingpins live the high life on workers’ efforts
http://www.kansascity.com/922/story/1630966.html
Story: Money flows home to poor countries
http://www.kansascity.com/922/story/1630969.html
Story: Decades pass, yet abuse cases persist
http://www.kansascity.com/922/story/1630985.html
Story: One worker’s injury on the job incurs the wrath of an angry trafficker
http://www.kansascity.com/922/story/1630605.html
Story: Traffickers rely upon labor recruiters in faraway lands
http://www.kansascity.com/922/story/1630604.html
DAY 4: Ask questions later
Video: Deportation flights may violate rights, critics say
Summary: The Star was allowed to board a flight operated by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) that returned deportees to Guatemala, “a flight nobody want to catch.” The deportees are searched extensively, and can be abused and threatened even on the flight. Once returned home, some may repeat the cycle.
VIEW: http://videos.kansascity.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=8005330
Length: 2:21
SEE ALSO:
Story: Ask Questions Later: Victims are too often deported
http://www.kansascity.com/975/story/1633621.html
Story: Hostage House, Part 4: Armed men, just outside the door
http://www.kansascity.com/975/story/1633871.html
Story: A Closer Look: One deportee’s story
http://www.kansascity.com/975/story/1633624.html
Story: Air fleets fraught with woes
http://www.kansascity.com/975/story/1633606.html
Story: Poverty in Central America pushes residents to risk the trip north
http://www.kansascity.com/975/story/1633789.html
Slide show: (23 photos) A new slavery: ICE flight
Photos by Keith Myers
http://www.kansascity.com/934/gallery/1620887.html
DAY 5: Changing Views
Video: Solutions to human trafficking are difficult, necessary
Summary: An audio slide presentation with a summary of the report’s findings, as told by the reporters who worked on the series, and their suggestions for solutions to the problem.
VIEW: http://videos.kansascity.com/vmix_hosted_apps/p/media?id=8044911
Length: 2:16
SEE ALSO:
Story: Changing views: Government promises action
http://www.kansascity.com/888/story/1635773.html
Story: Hostage House, Part 5 | ‘I share my liberty with my son’
http://www.kansascity.com/888/story/1635821.html
Story: Experts offer ideas to address trafficking
http://www.kansascity.com/888/story/1635796.html
Story: Ideas from the experts: Mark Bratman, International Rescue Committee
http://www.kansascity.com/888/story/1635742.html
Story: Ideas from the experts: Jolene Smith of Free the Slaves
http://www.kansascity.com/888/story/1635743.html
Story: Voices for change (feedback)
http://www.kansascity.com/888/story/1635770.html
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