Operation Underground Railroad

Have you ever inadvertently come across child sexual abuse material on social media, or seen a suspicious situation where someone is potentially being trafficked? It is important to us to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary so you can be advocates for those who may be in need. We have compiled a guide of helpful resources to report potential human trafficking and exploitation cases. O.U.R. is not a reporting agency. Please exercise good judgment when making a r...eport. As stated on the Human Trafficking Hotline website, all tips are taken seriously, however, conspiracy-related reports from people with no direct knowledge of trafficking situations can overwhelm services meant for victims. Here is the full reporting guide: https://ourrescue.org//a-comprehensive-guide-of-trusted-re

The O.U.R. Ops team has been supporting local Thai law enforcement in multiple operations, and we are excited to share these updates with you. The two pictures below feature the arrests during Operation MikMik and Operation Gaga. OPERATION MIKMIK: O.U.R. assisted the Thai Police’s Department of Special Investigation in arresting an Israeli man for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) found on his computer. The man was arrested in a Thailand hotel room, for human ...trafficking related offenses, after the Israeli Embassy requested an investigation. The offender was sent to a local police station for legal proceedings. OPERATION GAGA: An adult Thai male was arrested by the Royal Thai Police Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, for posting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to his Twitter account. Upon the arrest, a cellular phone was seized, and the ATPD requested O.U.R.’s Ops team to forensically process the device. Although the suspect said he deleted all evidence, O.U.R.’s digital forensic analysts recovered the CSAM material. Following the full forensic examination and the ATPD’s interview of the target, it was determined that multiple criminal charges related to child sexual assault and CSAM production/distribution would be filed. The ATPD is working on identifying and contacting all survivors involved. Full story: https://ourrescue.org/blog/operation-roundup-thailand

In case you missed it last week, here is our newest video highlighting the first quarter of 2021. We are thrilled to share with you what has been happening this year so far!

Today we honor and remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives so we may have #freedomforall

Check out some highlights from the first quarter of 2021 in our newest video: https://youtu.be/XNGaWAtDlmo

SURVIVOR UPDATE: "Lily", now a mother herself, is able to abundantly care for her family with her business that you helped support through your donations. Due to her recent success and giving nature, Lily was inspired to put on an entire Mother’s Day celebration for her local community! She hosted a gathering for all of the women in her neighborhood and made a variety of home-cooked meals to honor and celebrate the mothers in the area.... O.U.R. is beyond moved to not only see Lily supporting her family, but also to witness her continuing to give back and share her success with those around her. Stories like Lily’s remind us of the power of giving and the richness that comes from sharing your wellbeing with others. If you missed Lily’s story, read below for a recap. ------ 14-year-old Lily was exploited throughout her childhood in nightclubs and by both her mother and by a local gang in Central America. Three years later, during an operation referred to as Operation Barbarosa, the O.U.R. Ops Team supported local law enforcement as they identified and rescued ten survivors, and Lily was one of them. The O.U.R. Aftercare Team recently joined the in-country team to meet with Lily and learn about her new business. Lily explained that she currently has a restaurant business, but made note that it was not operating under the ideal conditions, and she had to make do with what she had. After hearing Lily’s story, O.U.R. was eager to help support her and give her the necessary means for her business to thrive. O.U.R. provided a fridge for her food, along with a stove big enough to cook multiple dishes at once, and a wooden table for her customers to eat at. A few weeks later, our aftercare team received a phone call from Lily. With such a happy demeanor and excitement in her voice, she told our team on the phone how much money she had made that day at her restaurant business and how pleased she was for her success. She soon after began to invest the money that she made back into her business and even was able to start a chicken coop to raise and sell chickens as a part of her business. Lily’s story is a true testament of hope, and O.U.R. is grateful to be a part of it.

The Vice Presidency of Guatemala, The Secretariat against Sexual Violence, Exploitation, and Trafficking in Persons (SVET), in coordination with the Public Ministry in Guatemala held a regional conference late last year, attended by government officials from the Northern Triangle of Central America and NGOs. O.U.R., along with our law enforcement and aftercare partners from South America, was invited to attend and speak. O.U.R. Senior Aftercare Specialist Tyler Schwab briefed the Vice Presidents from the Northern Triangle on how O.U.R. operates and provides aftercare. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to discuss with these leaders ways to expand the fight to end human trafficking in their countries.

Male victims of trafficking are frequently controlled through false promises, and labour related methods such as withholding of earnings and excessive working hours. (CTDC) Danny, a 23-year-old male, was trafficked for labor in the United States. He is from Central America and grew up very poor, so when he was offered a job as a day cook in the United States, he was very excited. The company paid for him to travel to the United States and start his job. Upon arriving at ...the restaurant, the company confiscated his passport. They forced him to work around the clock. They threatened him with deportation and withheld his pay. This was a very traumatizing place to be in, especially because Danny did not speak any English. Labor traffickers often use this to their advantage, because even if Danny wanted to escape, he would have a difficult time navigating where to go due to the language barrier. A few months ago, Danny was identified and freed from his situation by local law enforcement. O.U.R. Aftercare was brought on to help coordinate his trip home, along with continual survivor care once he arrived home. Danny was looking forward to going home, but had some difficulty with his flights. Delayed COVID tests and delayed flights made it difficult for Danny to travel home in a timely manner. For his final flight, the airline was extremely helpful and attentive to help Danny navigate where he needed to go. He was incredibly grateful when his flight finally hit the ground in his home country. O.U.R. Aftercare partners met Danny at the airport and coordinated plans with his family. O.U.R. Aftercare has continued to walk alongside Danny as he works to overcome his experiences and make a safe, sustainable income. Thanks to your donations, we have provided Danny with access to online vocational training opportunities and a bike to help him get to work. We are continuing to work with his family to support them during this time of healing.

On Jon and Tara Bigler's wall sits a full picture frame of kids of all ages and backgrounds. This collage includes all of the kids they’ve welcomed into their home for varying amounts of time. Ranging from newborn babies to older teenagers, Jon and Tara have fostered and cared for a total of 16 children in their home. About 6 years ago, they prepared to welcome twin girls. They baked cookies, washed bedding and made beds, ran to Target to get them their own stuffed animal, e...verything they could think of to provide comfort for the girls who had just been through a very difficult day. The twins never left the Bigler’s home, after four and a half years, they were officially adopted and a part of the Bigler family. The Biglers’ hearts extend even beyond those 16 kids. For four years, they lived in-house and served as home parents in a residential youth treatment center. In total, Jon and Tara have cared for 108 kids. Jon and Tara do not pretend that being parents is easy, but the positive parts of it have been more rewarding than they could have ever expected. It gives them a higher purpose and meaning to their lives, knowing they are making a difference by simply being a loving heart for someone who needs it. Research has shown that traffickers target children with increased vulnerabilities (NCOSE). These vulnerabilities may include a history of running away, childhood sexual abuse, significant substance abuse issues, or living with someone with significant substance abuse issues, and more. Many children in the U.S. foster care system identify with one or more of these situations. We invite you to read the inspiring full story of the Bigler family, including a reunion with one of their foster daughters, ways to get involved, and more, on our blog:

With the invitation of law enforcement in Southeast Asia, O.U.R. Operators worked on a human trafficking case that was identified on Twitter. Multiple underage boys were identified as possible victims of human trafficking as a known suspect was found to be selling them online. Members of the O.U.R. Aftercare Team and the local police were on scene as undercover O.U.R. Operators made contact with the suspected trafficker. A deal was made with the trafficker and soon after, a young boy was dropped off at the predetermined location. The survivor was identified as a victim of human trafficking and was rescued from ever having to be sold again. On this same night, O.U.R. Aftercare also provided assistance and support to 4 other young male survivors from a separate operation that O.U.R. did not assist in.

Martin Luther King Jr. left a legacy that many movements for justice look to for strength and example. We at O.U.R. are inspired by his conviction and courage. May we strive to work together to achieve the equality and freedom that we all hope for, both in this country and around the world. What is your favorite quote from Martin Luther King Jr.? #FreedomForAll #MLKJrDay

An American woman had been married to her husband for nineteen years when he forced her into sex trafficking. They were in a low-income situation and one day he told her that she needed to sell herself on the streets in order to pay their rent. He was both physically and verbally abusive. He locked her out of the house and said she wasn’t allowed to come back until she made enough rent money from selling herself for sex. It broke her heart. She didn’t understand why her husba...nd was telling her to do this. She was confused why this man who said he loved her would force her to sell herself on the streets. Extremely heart-broken, she went to the streets. When she had made enough money, she brought it back to him. He called her horrible names and told her to get back out there and make more. He said that she didn’t make enough. An estimated 4.8 million people are trapped in forced sexual exploitation globally. (ILO) January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month. With your support, we can spread awareness and take steps to #endhumantrafficking. Visit ourrescue.org/training to take our free online training to recognize and report the signs.

O.U.R. has been supporting the fight against sex trafficking and online exploitation in Thailand for over four years. Here are some exciting updates from our recent work in Thailand!

It once took 22 days to rescue a 14-year-old girl who called us from a brothel asking for our help. When we finally got to her, we learned she had been trafficked 198 times in those 22 days. So we started our own SWAT Team so we never have to wait that long again to rescue girls like her. She is now a social worker on our SWAT Team fighting to save others from the same evil that once enslaved her. aimfree.org O.U.R. is honored to partner with Agape International Missions ...(AIM) and support their amazing work in Cambodia. There are many approaches to ending the evil of human trafficking and there are many amazing organizations around the world tackling different aspects of the problem. When we come together to fight, we are even stronger. That’s why AIM and O.U.R. have teamed up for the past 5 years, working to rescue and heal survivors and bring justice to the traffickers. AIM and O.U.R. work together when possible, sharing resources and information. This cooperation helps us to catch and arrest more traffickers while rescuing more men, women, and children. The AIM team provides quality survivor care and free legal support to survivors after they are rescued. Together, we have rescued over 700 children from slavery and arrested over 200 traffickers! https://ourrescue.org//o-u-r-agape-international-missions/

I am strong because I tell the cops about the other girls who are being hurt like I was. I can’t leave them there. - Sabrina, 8 years old. Sabrina’s testimony in court led the police in Central America to be able to find 3 other survivors who were being exploited, ages 10, 12, and 13. Sabrina’s testimony also helped police find 2 American predators who were living in the country and who were unknown to the police up until that point. All of these survivors are now safe an...d receiving survivor care. Our team calls Sabrina Little Wonder Woman because of her immense courage and bravery. One small, but courageous voice led to the liberation of more survivors. We are 3 weeks away from Giving Tuesday, and we have some exciting surprises! Stay tuned.

With support and resources from O.U.R., the Mesa Police Department arrested 3 predators and rescued 3 survivors in three different operations. In one of the operations, a 37-year-old man named Jason Vangundy was arrested for trafficking a 16 and 17 year old he connected with through social media. He was recently indicted on charges including child sex trafficking, money laundering, and sexual conduct with a minor (he allegedly violated the 16 year old girl). After meeting th...ese girls online, Vangundy provided them with a place to live, cell phones, and taught them how to sell themselves online. Child sex trafficking is happening here in America, in places like the Phoenix area. We are incredibly grateful to support operations like these to help rescue and protect more children and youth from being exploited. News story: https://www.azcentral.com//grand-jury-indicts-/6069411002/

9-year-old Ava started chatting with a boy online who seemed to be very nice and only a few years older than her. Ava grew up in an abusive environment in her home in Central America, so she turned to social media to find connection and friends. After Ava and this boy had developed a little relationship online, the boy asked for explicit pictures of her. She replied to his request. After she sent the first picture, the boy on the other end of the chat revealed who he trul...y was: a 70-year-old man in Florida. If you don’t send me more pictures, I will post these publicly and send them to everyone you know. At only 9 years old, Ava felt like she had no other choice. She complied with his requests and sent him the pictures he wanted. Unsurprisingly, he uploaded the pictures of Ava online anyway. This predator, miles and miles away from this little girl, was still able to exploit her repeatedly. Law enforcement found the pictures that the man had uploaded and worked to identify and rescue Ava. Not only was she being exploited online, but she was being continually abused by close family members. She was placed in an aftercare home that O.U.R. supports in Central America. Last month, the O.U.R. Aftercare Team joined Ava and the other survivors in the home for Ava’s quinceañera. They enjoyed food and music together. Ava had many ups and downs that day as she processed getting older and remembering all that she had been through. Healing is not a linear process. This man in Florida has made Ava’s life incredibly difficult. We are in awe of Ava’s strength and determination, and O.U.R. Aftercare will continue to stand by her and support her on her healing journey.

Join us LIVE tomorrow night at 7pm MT for our virtual gala! Register for FREE here: https://my.ourrescue.org/riseupgala O.U.R. Founder Tim Ballard will be the keynote speaker.

Free a Girl is joining forces with women around the world to fight sexual exploitation of children and impunity. As described in their new video, you can get involved by donating your voice and adding it to the many other voices who have already spoken out. We are so grateful for organizations like Free a Girl who strengthen the fight against exploitation and share our mission to help survivors heal. We had the pleasure of meeting the Free A Girl team over a year ago and are excited to collaborate with them in the future. Learn more and donate your voice here: https://voiceforjustice.freeagirl.com/

"Having the aftercare team with us after an operation is vital to our mission. When we begin working a case with law enforcement we envision the moment we will have all the evidence we need for the traffickers to be arrested and the survivors to receive all the care they need. By having aftercare as part of our crucial team, we can provide assistance immediately. I recall an investigation in Latin America where a young victim was identified and rescued. As operators we maint...ained our undercover role and could not reveal that we were the good guys working with those there to help them. I learned later of the progress this young lady had made after the operation and credit the success due to our aftercare team continually following up with her. As I learned this information, it made all of our sacrifices worth it, to know a precious soul had been located. It solidified why we place ourselves in dark environments so we can guide others towards the light. Without aftercare, many children could be lost in the darkness." - O.U.R. Operator See more

As "Norah" prepares food throughout the day, her daughter stands next to her imitating her every move. She stands at her toy kitchen set and pours something when her mom pours something, cuts something when her mom cuts something. I’m helping my mom. I’m going to own a restaurant like my mom one day, she said. Norah is a survivor of trafficking. After taking a 12-week business course offered to survivors by one of O.U.R.’s aftercare partners, she courageously started a rest...aurant in Central America. Not only did this 12-week business class affect Norah’s life, but it also affected her daughter’s life. Norah endured many years of abuse from her husband and father. But Norah is working to break the chain. She is empowering her daughter by working hard at her restaurant, providing memories that her daughter will take with her for the rest of her life. See more

I am proud to be working towards being a social worker. I want to heal others the same way I was healed. - Debbie, Age 16. In many of our partnering aftercare homes around the world, survivors love to come back and mentor their younger peers. This turns into a beautiful healing experience for many when they can relate to each other and feel mutually understood. We are continually amazed by the strength of survivors to persevere through the hard moments and to look to the f...uture with hope. As we enter the season of gratitude and Thanksgiving, we are excited to be sharing more survivor stories with you in the coming weeks leading up to Giving Tuesday, December 1st. Every year on this global day of giving, we work closely with survivors to inspire others to join the movement to end human trafficking and exploitation. Stay tuned for ways to get involved and make a difference on Giving Tuesday!

Here is our latest video, "What Is Your Favorite Color?" This poem illustrates a conversation with a survivor and her friend, and why asking the simple question of "What Is Your Favorite Color?" may not always provide a simple answer. A special thank you to Deanne Brodie-Mends, Raw Focus Dance, Stuart Bennett, and RJ Idos. Preorder your #WYFC hat today: https://my.ourrescue.org/product/WYFC/wyfc-hat

When Maya* was 16 years old, she was excited to find her first job. She met a man who offered her a well-paying job in a neighboring country in Western Africa. He said that she could earn a great income as a shop attendant. Maya accepted his offer and looked forward to learning a new skill. Upon her arrival in the new city, her trafficker revealed that he was going to force her to sell herself for sex. He demanded that she make a certain amount of money each day and that she ...must give it all to him. Maya’s heart filled with fear as he drove her to a brothel so she could start her work. The night before she was supposed to start, she noticed a man selling phone accessories outside the brothel. He was from her home country. She decided to confide in him. She snuck out of the brothel, hoping that this man would be able to help her. Luckily, the man acted quickly and immediately called the police. As the police and anti-human trafficking unit prepared the rescue operation, O.U.R. Aftercare and partners worked to find trusted aftercare services for Maya. Because of Maya's bravery, she was rescued and her trafficker was arrested. We will continue to support Maya as she navigates the court process and her return home!