Federal immigration authorities are urging victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and other crimes to call 1-888-373-7888 for help.
The 24-hour toll free hotline provides assistance in more than 170 languages. Victims may be eligible for visas allowing them to stay in the United States and help law enforcement officers investigate these crimes.
“Our message is simple: Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Denise Frazier, district director for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said in a news conference Thursday. “We are here. There is protection available to you.”
Human trafficking can include forced labor and prostitution. And it can happen when men, women and children are lured to the United States from other countries with false promises of well-paying jobs.
The Atlanta area is a hub for this crime on the East Coast, partly because of its proximity to interstates, an international airport and large immigrant population, said Brock Nicholson, a special agent in Atlanta for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's homeland security investigations.
“The problem is tremendous here in Atlanta,” Nicholson said. “It is considered one of the highest priorities for not only us but for the U.S. attorney’s office as well as the FBI.”
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