Wifredo Ferrer, Human Trafficking, DC 2023

Feds converge on Washington DC this month to address a harrowing truth: human trafficking. Leading the charge was U.S. Attorney Wifredo Ferrer, who, in a powerful statement, called for an all-out war against modern-day slavery.

Announcing the Justice Department’s National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch underscored the seriousness of the issue. ‘These invaluable partnerships have offered survivors assistance,’ said Ferrer, emphasizing the collaborative effort necessary to combat trafficking.

Since taking office in 2010, Ferrer has prioritized human trafficking cases, leading his team in over 50 human trafficking prosecutions involving more than 70 victims. The Southern District of Florida’s Special Prosecution’s Section is a beacon in this fight, overseeing Human Trafficking and Project Safe Childhood Programs.

Established as one of the initial Anti-Trafficking Coordination Teams, Ferrer’s office has been instrumental in high-impact federal human trafficking investigations. His Federal South Florida Human Trafficking Task Force, a coalition of federal and local agencies, is on the frontlines of victim rescue and trafficker prosecution.

‘We cannot do this important work – alone,’ Ferrer implored the public, emphasizing the need for expanded partnerships and community awareness to crack down on human trafficking. In 2016, the Task Force included over 120 non-law enforcement members, highlighting its grassroots approach to fighting this insidious crime.

With Ferrer at the helm, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida continues to be a force against human trafficking, using every legal tool in their arsenal to dismantle modern slavery networks and bring justice to the most vulnerable victims.