The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Blue Campaign recently partnered with the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l, the world’s largest airline pilot union, to fight human trafficking.
The partnership also includes U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is proud to partner with those who stand up against human trafficking and exploitation, which has no place in society,” CBP acting Commissioner John P. Sanders said. “Through the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI), we are equipping a critical group of airline professionals who are in a unique position to identify and report signs of potential exploitation and trafficking to law enforcement authorities. Through partnerships like BLI, we can help stop human exploitation.”
Pilots will have access to an interactive training module through the Blue Lightning Initiative. The initiative aims to train aviation industry personnel on how to identify human trafficking victims and potential traffickers. Staff members are encouraged to report suspicions to federal law enforcement.
More than 100,000 aviation industry personnel have been trained through the initiative.
The initiative is part of the national public awareness Blue Campaign. It aims to educate the public, law enforcement, and others how to recognize human trafficking.