OIS

January 22, 2020

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. While trafficking victims disproportionately affect the immigrant community, it can happen in any community and victims can be of any age, race, gender or nationality. While CCETN does not have a program specifically designated to human trafficking, our Office of Immigrant Services (OIS) has helped clients who have bravely escaped a trafficking situation. This is Louise’s story.

In 2008, Louise, a native of Senegal, was trafficked to the United States of America. Due to civil unrest, Louise had lost most of her family and she longed for a better opportunity  outside of Senegal. Soon after she met a wealthy man. He offered Louise a job including an opportunity to come back with him to the USA. While Louise did not know this man well, his opportunity in the US was better than her current situation in Senegal. However, what Louise did not know is that from this point forward, she would become a human trafficked victim of forced labor. 











She was trafficked via sea and the ship she traveled on took several months to make it to her port of entry. Finally, she arrived in Alaska six months later. From there, Louise was trafficked to New Orleans, LA. She was forced to work in a textile mill with mostly Spanish and English speakers. However, her native language was French, and she had little communication, if any with her co-workers.

Every day her trafficker would take her to and from work. Her living quarters were deplorable, and she slept on a mattress in the locked basement of the trafficker’s house. Over time her health began to decline as her only meal in captivity was stale bread and anchovies. This continued for years. 













After insistent pleading for better food, Louise’s trafficker finally took her to an ethnic restaurant in New Orleans. While there, Louise overheard some employees talking in French. At the first opportunity she saw, Louise was brave enough to ask for help! A gentleman and his wife helped her and ultimately rescued her from captivity.



















Louise’s rescuers were originally from Knoxville, TN. With her permission, they brought her to Knoxville to stay with a family they knew there. In a safer living situation, Louise began trying to rebuild her life. She joined the church her host family attended, and it was there she heard about our OIS office.

She had begun the tedious process of becoming a US citizen, but came to OIS seeking information on an immigration benefit to help expedite the process. Through probono legal assistance, OIS won Louise’s immigration case in 2014! She is now a Lawful Permanent Resident on her way to becoming a US Citizen.

“When CCETN didn’t take any money from me, it felt like a gift,” said Louise. “I would like to thank CCETN for giving me hope. They are good people and I cannot thank them enough. Because of them I can smile now.”













Soon after her application was accepted, Louise was able to work. She became more independent and was able to help her host family support the household, as well as save money. After saving for a year, she bought her first car. “It felt good to work, but I wanted to do better for myself,” said Louise. “I did a google search on ‘How to start a business’ and learned as much as I could.” Continuing to work and save, Louise compiled enough capital to launch a clothing business in 2017, selling men and women’s items. Today, Louise is thrivin! We’re honored to be a part of her story in helping her overcome incredible odds.

She said, “I will always do my best to make CCETN proud. It’s always good to help people, especially those who have lost everything. God will bless them for all they did for me and other people in need.”

Louise’s story is wonderful, but oftentimes others are not as fortunate. Most times, it takes the help and generosity of others to rescue someone from captivity. Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims. Learn the indicators of human trafficking here and potentially help save a life one day.

To report suspected human trafficking to Federal law enforcement. Call 1-866-347-2423.

To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).

Names, events and dates have been altered to protect the client’s identity.

Louise's
             Story

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. While trafficking victims disproportionately affect the immigrant community, it can happen in any community and victims can be of any age, race, gender or nationality. While CCETN does not have a program specifically designated to human trafficking, our Office of Immigrant Services (OIS)                                                                                                               has helped clients who have bravely escaped a trafficking situation. This is Louise’s story.

                                                                                                         In 2008, Louise, a native of Senegal, was trafficked to the United States of America. Due                                                                                                           to civil unrest, Louise had lost most of her family and she longed for a better                                                                                                                                     opportunity  outside of Senegal. Soon after she met a wealthy man. He offered Louise a                                                                                                              job including an opportunity to come back with him to the USA. While Louise did not                                                                                                                    know this man well, his opportunity in the US was better than her current situation in                                                                                                                Senegal. However, what Louise did not know is that from this point forward, she would                                                                                                              become a human trafficked victim of forced labor. 






She was trafficked via sea and the ship she traveled on took several months to make it to her port of entry. Finally, she arrived in Alaska six months later. From there, Louise was trafficked to New Orleans, LA. She was forced to work in a textile mill with mostly Spanish and English speakers. However, her native language was French, and she had little communication, if any with her co-workers.

Every day her trafficker would take her to and from work. Her living quarters were deplorable, and she slept on a mattress in the locked basement of the trafficker’s house. Over time her health began to decline as her only meal in captivity was stale bread and anchovies. This continued for years. 

After insistent pleading for better food, Louise’s trafficker finally took
her to an ethnic restaurant in New Orleans. While there, Louise
overheard some employees talking in French. At the first opportunity
she saw, Louise was brave enough to ask for help! A gentleman and his
 wife helped her and ultimately rescued her from captivity.

Louise’s rescuers were originally from Knoxville, TN. With her
permission, they brought her to Knoxville to stay with a family they
knew there. In a safer living situation, Louise began trying to rebuild her
life. She joined the church her host family attended, and it was there she
heard about our OIS office. 







She had begun the tedious process of becoming a US citizen, but came to OIS seeking information on an immigration benefit to help expedite the process. Through probono legal assistance, OIS won Louise’s immigration case in 2014! She is now a Lawful Permanent Resident on her way to becoming a US Citizen.

“When CCETN didn’t take any money from me, it felt like a gift,” said Louise. “I would like to thank CCETN for giving me hope. They are good people and I cannot thank them enough. Because of them I can smile now.”

Soon after her application was accepted, Louise was able to work. She became more independent and was able to help her host family support the household, as well as save money. After saving for a year, she bought her first car. “It felt good to work, but I wanted to do better for myself,” said Louise. “I did a google search on ‘How to start a business’ and learned as much as I could.” Continuing to work and save, Louise compiled enough capital to launch a clothing business in 2017, selling men and women’s items. Today, Louise is thriving! We’re honored to be a part of her story in helping her overcome incredible odds.

                                                                                                                    She said, “I will always do my best to make CCETN proud. It’s always good to help                                                                                                                          people, especially those who have lost everything. God will bless them for all they                                                                                                                          did for me and other people in need.”

                                                                                                                    Louise’s story is wonderful, but oftentimes others are not as fortunate. Most times,                                                                                                                      it takes the help and generosity of others to rescue someone from captivity.                                                                                                                                      Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying                                                                                                                                     victims. Learn the indicators of human trafficking here and potentially help save a                                                                                                                         life one day.

To report suspected human trafficking to Federal law enforcement. Call 1-866-347-2423.

To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).

Names, events and dates have been altered to protect the client’s identity.

Fact: Sex trafficking exists, but it is not the only type of human trafficking. Forced labor is another type of human trafficking and they both involve the exploitation of people.

Fact: Human trafficking is often a hidden crime. Victims may be afraid to come forward and get help; they may be forced or coerced through threats or violence; they may fear retribution from traffickers, including danger to their families; and they may not be in possession of or have control of their identification documents.