THE FOLLOW UP
Jan 22, 2026 · dhs.gov
Important News

DHS release describes recent operations against human-trafficking networks and expanded child-welfare checks

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Key takeaways

  • President Donald J. Trump declared January 2026 “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.”
  • DHS, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, says it has located 132,720 of 450,000 unaccompanied children who were placed with unvetted sponsors.
  • ICE launched the UAC Safety Verification Initiative in November 2025 with state and local 287(g) partners to conduct welfare checks on unaccompanied children placed with sponsors.
  • The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) reports operations since August 2025 that led to arrests of individuals tied to Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco Nuevo Generacion (CJNG), MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and other gangs.
  • The release lists specific ICE arrests of sponsors in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, and Massachusetts for offenses including assault, larceny, sexual assault, and child-enticing offenses.
  • DHS highlights the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) coordinating 16 DHS offices and components, and cites the Blue Campaign for awareness and survivor resources.
  • DHS provides federal reporting and victim hotlines: 1-866-347-2423 for federal law enforcement and 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP/INFO to BeFree (233733) for the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Follow Up Questions

What is the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) and which agencies or offices compose it?Expand

DHS describes the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as an interagency, DHS‑led operational initiative created to coordinate and execute large-scale operations against transnational criminal networks (cartels, gangs, human‑trafficking groups). The HSTF is co‑led by the Secretary of Homeland Security and brings together DHS law‑enforcement components (notably ICE and CBP), DHS intelligence and policy offices, and partners in DOJ and state/local 287(g) law‑enforcement; DHS press materials do not publish a single fixed membership list but identify ICE, CBP, the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT), and Justice Department partners as core participants.

Sources

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