(From the Desk of the Governor, January 19, 2024)

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and during my State of the State and Budget Address two weeks ago, I called for new funding to help Idaho law enforcement combat human trafficking.

In the coming weeks, I will issue an executive order to formally establish my Operation Esto Perpetua – a crime-fighting initiative I started in my first term as Governor to address the flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into our State. Now, I’m going to expand their focus by adding another directive – to assess the threat of human trafficking and our open border.

My IDAHO WORKS plan calls for sending two teams of Idaho State Police troopers to train and act as a force multiplier at our lawless southern border, as we did with fentanyl twice before.

Only now, the troopers will learn the best tactics to respond to those who smuggle and abuse vulnerable people.

They will come back to Idaho with better knowledge to stop these perpetrators in our State, and, as they did before, our troopers will debrief and train their law enforcement colleagues around the State when they return.

If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please know help is available.

Local and National Victim Support Services:

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