U.S. Attorney General William Barr says the federal government is awarding more than $100 million in grants to target human trafficking.
In Atlanta Monday, Barr made the announcement with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and presidential adviser Ivanka Trump. The money will go to task forces combatting human trafficking, to victim services, and victim housing. Barr added:
“This is one of the top enforcement priorities of the department and we’re on the forefront of this fight.
“It’s only by cooperating with all our partners, our state and local partners and those in the private sector that we’re going to be able to make any progress and ultimately end the victimization of those boys and girls.”
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In August, the Trump administration awarded $35 million in Justice Department grants to organizations that provide safe housing for victims of human trafficking.
Marty Kemp, the wife of the Governor Kemp, has made human trafficking a focus of her work as Georgia’s first lady. Barr said:
“The governor and the first lady here have been second to none in the nation in taking this fight on and working closely with the federal government and I really appreciate that.”
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Before the announcement, Barr, Trump, and the Kemps toured the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy southwest of downtown Atlanta. There, they listened to employees talk about their work, including efforts to ensure that caregivers of children who have been abused get counseling and help. Amy Shipp, a family advocate, said:
“Some of our families have such basic needs that need to be met, that the fact that their child has experienced this trauma is not even the highest on their list right now.”
The center also has a program that seeks to prepare teenagers in foster care for adulthood by providing them with the education, work experience, and life experiences needed so they can take care of themselves as adults.
