Airlines Join the Fight Against Human Trafficking

In an article posted on June 9, 2013 on thePhilaNews.com, four American commercial airlines have partnered with the government to provide special training for their employees to recognize signs of human trafficking in the air and on the ground.

Representatives from Delta AirLines and JetBlue Airways joined the U.S. Transportation Department Secretary, Ray LaHood, and U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection acting Deputy Commissioner, Kevin K. McAleenan, at a press conference in Washington on June 6, 2013 to announce the new association. The other two airlines joining this voluntary partnership are Allegiant Air and North American Airlines.

"We cannot let the American transportation system be an enabler in these criminal acts," said Secretary LaHood, according to a June 6 Transportation Department news release, "With today's announcement, we are sending a message to any would-be traffickers -whether you ravel by land, by rail, or by air, we will be watching you."

According to this news release from the Transportation Department, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) collaborated to develop a training program called Blue Lightening Initiative that is available to airlines as part of a DHS Blue Campaign to help them educate their employees on potential indicators of human trafficking and how to identify potential victims.

The article goes on to discuss Blue Lightening in more detail as well as further efforts by  the U.S. Department of Transportation to combat human trafficking.

To read the full article, visit the link below.

Airlines, U.S. Agencies Partner to Combat Human Trafficking