WASHINGTON -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched two public service announcements as part of the “Don’t Be Fooled” campaign—a public awareness campaign designed to educate citizens and encourage public vigilance to combat human trafficking within local communities, and invite others to join the fight against this form of modern-day slavery, July 20.
The two public service announcements, titled “Masquerade” and “Bird Cage,” will begin airing, July 25, in three key media markets: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and the Washington, D.C., metro area. All announcements will provide a phone number citizens can call to report suspicious activity.
“Death, disappearance, and enslavement—these too often are the futures that await illegal immigrants who mortgage their lives to human smugglers” said CBP Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar. “These evils are what CBP and our partner agencies within the Department of Homeland Security began to target with last year’s ‘No Te Engañes’ campaign and that we continue to combat with our new ‘Don’t Be Fooled’ efforts.”
“Trafficking victims live under a crippling fear under the control of their traffickers who’ve filled their minds with lies,” said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Kumar C. Kibble. “Through CBP’s ‘No Te Engañes’ public service announcement, we hope to reach and rescue the victims who’ve endured much pain and suffering at the hands of callous criminals. ICE is committed to arresting human traffickers and bring them to justice by ensuring that they feel the full weight of the law.”