In Virginia, feds organizing for a fight
By: Freeman Klopott

June 28, 2010

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Alexandria earlier this month convened one of two meetings it plans to hold this year to fight human trafficking in Virginia, but Rep. Frank Wolf says the meetings need to be more frequent, as activists say they're being ignored.

The June 7 meeting of the human trafficking "working group" was organized by U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride and included officials from the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and various nonprofit groups, officials said. The next meeting is scheduled for the end of the year, which is too far into the future for the catch-up Virginia needs to play to protect the commonwealth from human traffickers, Wolf told The Washington Examiner.

"This should be a once-a-month operation," Wolf said.

"We are currently looking at the threat in Northern Virginia, what tools we have available and what trafficking issues need to be addressed," said Peter Carr, a spokesman for MacBride's office.

Meanwhile, the Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force has been meeting with the FBI since last fall. Unlike the task forces in Maryland and the District, it's not the product of a Department of Justice memorandum of understanding. The Virginia task force includes representatives from Boat People SOS, Restoration Ministries, local and state law enforcement, and the FBI, among other federal agencies. It's coordinated by community activist Jessica Johnson, who said she feels the task force is being ignored.

"If they're really serious about fighting human trafficking, why would they not acknowledge and embrace a pre-existing group, rather than brush us aside?" said Johnson, who attended the June 7 meeting.

Carr said the office has reached out to Johnson and her task force.

fklopott@washingtonexaminer.com


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