New York: A Filipino couple file a lawsuit against a church for forced labor. They came to the U.S. with a promise of a green card after two years of missionary work. However, upon arrival, they were forced to be part of fundraising efforts selling flowers, silver accessaries, and beads without getting paid and threatened to meet a daily quota of $500. The church is currently under investigation, and the couple are seeking the damage award for unpaid wages and as victims of human trafficking.
California: An assemblyman proposes a bill to impose tougher penalties on child abusers, including traffickers. The new bill will increase prison sentences for certain child abusers. The bill is awaiting a hearing in the committee on public safety on April 26.
Colorado: A Denver man and his sister are facing a child prostitution charge for pimping on a minor up to 30 times. The 17 year old victim said that the man collected money range between $200 and $500 from the johns while she kept 30% of the profits. His sister allegedly drove her to meet johns. The victim said that the siblings controlled about six women for prostitution.
EUROPE
Hungary: Police in Europe arrested 98 people for labor trafficking Vietnamese people to UK. Their trafficking ring brought thousands of Vietnamese and forced them into labor on marijuana plantations in UK. Police also discovered a number of plantations during the investigation.
ASIA
The Philippines: Immigration Bureau vowed to step up its effort to fight against human trafficking. The Immigration Bureau's effort is aimed at removing the country off the U.S. human trafficking watch list. From August and December in 2010 alone, immigration officers stopped approximately 27,000 migrants most of whom disguised themselves as tourists from leaving the country.
Thailand: Police rescued more than 60 Burmese migrant workers from a factory in Bangkok. According to the report, the migrants were kept in prison like conditions and forced into slavery. They were not allowed to leave the building nor make phone calls. The raid was conducted after the police received a tip from one of the migrants who was able to escape the factory. The migrants, according to the police, also worked for 16 hours a day receiving as little as $7 a month or 30 cents per garment they made.
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