H. Res. 14 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
May 7, 2009. 
Whereas human smuggling and trafficking in persons con-
tinue to threaten the United States as well as individuals 
in transport; 
Whereas human smuggling and trafficking rings introduce 
numerous violent criminals to neighborhoods and commu-
nities in the United States; 
Whereas human smuggling and trafficking rings expose the 
United States to further acts of terrorism by subverting 
the authority of, and safety provided by, U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Cus-
toms Enforcement; 
Whereas individuals voluntarily being smuggled are exposed 
to tragic and dangerous conditions, many times resulting 
in their injury or death; 
Whereas countless individuals are abducted and trafficked 
against their will, continuing the grotesque practice of 
human slavery; 
Whereas human smuggling and trafficking in persons are 
often conducted by organized crime rings, which expose 
Federal agents to increased danger in their enforcement 
efforts;
•HRES 14 EH 
Whereas Department of Homeland Security personnel have, 
in the past, arrested many human smugglers and traf-
fickers in persons, only to see them freed without pros-
ecution; 
Whereas many of these same human smugglers and traf-
fickers in persons have been repeatedly arrested; 
Whereas such repeated encounters have been extremely de-
moralizing to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at a 
time when the American public has been putting tremen-
dous pressure on the agencies to do more to stop illegal 
border crossings; 
Whereas Federal prosecutions of human smugglers and traf-
fickers in persons have increased in recent months, re-
sulting in decreased repeat offenses and arrests and im-
proved morale; 
Whereas U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses a 
global enforcement strategy to disrupt and dismantle do-
mestic and international human smuggling and traf-
ficking organizations; 
Whereas U.S. Customs and Border Protection have worked 
cooperatively with U.S. Immigration and Customs En-
forcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local 
nonprofit service providers to identify and rescue victims 
of human trafficking and modern slavery and to ensure 
their safety and continued presence in the United States 
pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 
2000; and 
Whereas the 110th Congress of the United States unani-
mously adopted the bipartisan William Wilberforce Traf-
ficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, 
providing U.S. Customs and Border Protection and its
•HRES 14 EH 
law enforcement partners with new tools to bring human 
traffickers to justice and new responsibilities to identify 
and protect victims of modern slavery and at-risk unac-
companied alien children: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) reaffirms its support for the role and impor-
tance of the Department of Homeland Security, includ-
ing U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Im-
migration and Customs Enforcement, in combating 
human smuggling and trafficking in persons; 
(2) commends the Department of Justice for in-
creasing the rate of prosecutions against human smug-
glers and traffickers in persons; and 
(3) urges the Department of Justice to continue 
prosecuting smugglers and traffickers at a rate that will 
help eliminate the trade in human beings. 
Attest: 
Clerk.