The U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Thursday that its agency-wide forced labor team was awarded the 2021 Service to America Medals (“Sammies”) People’s Choice Award by the non-profit Partnership for Public Service.
CBP’s forced labor team investigates goods suspected of being made with forced labor and subsequently prevents them from entering the United States.
“I’m incredibly proud of the CBP team for being recognized as the People’s Choice Award winner in the Partnership for Public Service’s 2021 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals,” said Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller. “Eliminating forced labor from U.S. supply chains is a priority for CBP, and we remain dedicated to ending this egregious abuse of human rights.”
According to the International Labour Organization, 25 million people globally are imperiled by forced labor conditions, including such conditions as physical and sexual violence, debt bondage, withholding of wages, and other human rights abuses. Goods made by forced labor not only hurt workers but undermines law-abiding U.S. businesses and subjects American consumers to unwittingly making unethical purchases.
“Our forced labor team is committed to its mission and works exceptionally hard to investigate allegations of forced labor in U.S. supply chains,” said AnnMarie Highsmith, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade. “The information that they uncover allows us to take strong enforcement actions to keep illicit goods out of our country, stores, and homes.”
Since 2016, CBP has issued 32 Withhold Release Orders on goods, including cotton products from China, palm oil from Malaysia, and seafood from various fishing vessels. Additionally, CBP prevented more than $350 million in goods suspected of being made by forced labor from entering U.S. commerce, including hair products made from human hair.