“Despacito” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/music">singer</a> Luis Fonsi just released a new music video for the upcoming anti-child trafficking <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies">film</a>, “City of Dreams,” a signal that Hollywood could be &#8220;waking up&#8221; to the global issue that&#8217;s spotlighted in the film, according to commentators. 
The Puerto Rican recording artist posted a video of the song to almost 32 million subscribers on YouTube, including a caption that said he was “really proud of this one.” Fonsi said he was “honored to be part of a movie that has the power to change and save kids’ lives.”
The music video is interspersed with scenes from the movie, which was inspired by real events. Per <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/city_of_dreams_2024">Rotten Tomatoes</a>, the movie “follows Jesús, a young Mexican boy whose dreams of becoming a soccer star are shattered when he&#8217;s trafficked across the border and sold to a sweatshop making fast fashion in downtown Los Angeles.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="City of Dreams | Official Music Video | Luis Fonsi" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RNYiPQx8R_8?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The description says, “Thrust into a world of exploitation and despair, he&#8217;s forced to adhere to the grueling work schedule dictated by El Jefe, a boss who promises freedom for those who complete their quotas. Despite Jesús&#8217; hellish existence, he finds solace in Elena, a girl who was similarly betrayed and sold into slavery. When she goes missing and another co-worker Carlitos is severely beaten, Jesús realizes that the only way to save himself and the others is to fight back, even if it costs him his life.”
“City of Dreams” is scheduled to be released in theaters nationwide on August 30. Fonsi’s new single release comes on the heels of the massive success of “Sound of Freedom,” a film about child trafficking that outperformed expectations at the box office last summer.
“Sound of Freedom” is based on a true story of Tim Ballard — played by actor Jim Caviezel — a federal agent who quits his job to rescue a young girl from sex slavery in South America. The Angel Studios film brought in $184 million at the box office against a $14 million production budget.
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Commentators took Fonsi&#8217;s video as a sign that Hollywood is finally willing to speak out about child trafficking.
&#8220;Hollywood is FINALLY waking up to child trafficking,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/WatchChad/status/1824483248862319083">said</a> radio host Chad Prather.
More artists are associating themselves with films that have potentially controversial messages, including rap artist Bryson Gray coming out with the “Am I Racist?” <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbitlyZMOdk">single</a> ahead of the nationwide release of Daily Wire host Matt Walsh’s new film of the same name.
The film explores the grift of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and dives into how racism and anti-racism has morphed over the years.
&#8220;Racism has a specific definition, but they keep trying to twist it to mean something else, like they do with gender, and that&#8217;s bearing false witness,&#8221; Gray <a href="https://thepostmillennial.com/exclusive-release-matt-walshs-am-i-racist-premieres-new-video-from-bryson-gray">told</a> The Post Millennial. &#8220;Academics like to slap on the propaganda because it suits their agenda.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s identity politics,&#8221; he continued. “And it&#8217;s funny because for the party that claims to be one of inclusion, it&#8217;s funny how much time they spend making a hyper-focus on these issues. Usually we judge people on their character, or their values, and that&#8217;s how I know if I can mix with someone.&#8221;
&#8220;Am I Racist?&#8221; is scheduled to be in hundreds of theaters across the nation on September 13. Fans can purchase tickets to a showing near them at <a href="http://amiracist.com/">amiracist.com</a>.

Luis Fonsi

‘Despacito’ Singer Drops New Song For Anti-Child Trafficking Movie City Of Dreams

'Despacito' Singer Drops New Song For Anti-Child Trafficking Movie 

Entertainment

Human Trafficking

Movies

Music

U.S.

Authorities in Ventura County, California, were tipped off last week to a suspected sex trafficker and rapist when a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly smuggled into the U.S. by the Mexican national texted 911 from the house she was being held in.
The Ventura County Sheriff&#8217;s Office <a href="https://local.nixle.com/alert/10989739/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Thursday that &#8220;In the early morning hours of May 9th, deputies working the Ojai Sheriff’s Sub-Station rescued a female human trafficking victim who had text[ed] &#8216;911&#8217; to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Communication Center.&#8221;
The young girl doesn&#8217;t speak English and could only provide details about the landmarks surrounding the house, but officers translated the texts into English and pieced together the clues given by the 17-year-old. Despite the limited information, deputies found the victim in just 20 minutes.
&#8220;Simultaneously as the call taker was engaging with the victim, other members of the communications center team were successful in giving real time information to deputies responding to the search. After about twenty minutes of searching the area of Casitas Springs, the victim was found by deputies,&#8221; the sheriff&#8217;s office added.
After she was rescued, the girl gave more information to deputies, which helped them identify and track down the suspect, Gerardo Cruz. The suspect was arrested and booked on multiple charges, including Human Trafficking, Forcible Rape, Lewd Acts Upon a Child, Luring, and Sexual Penetration with Force, the Ventura County Sheriff&#8217;s Office said. Cruz&#8217;s bail was set at $500,000.
Following a preliminary investigation, authorities said that the teenage victim was trafficked into California from Mexico around two months ago. The southern border crisis that has exploded under President Joe Biden has <a href="https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/116344/documents/HHRG-118-JU08-20230913-SD003.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opened the door</a> for human traffickers to take advantage of loose U.S. laws to boost their exploitative enterprise.
Authorities encouraged people to contact law enforcement immediately if they know a human trafficking victim or suspect that someone is running a human trafficking operation.
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&#8220;Human trafficking affects all of us. Thousands of people are trafficked each year into the United States and forced into sex and labor markets,&#8221; the sheriff&#8217;s office said. &#8220;Most victims are forced into mounting debt and quarantined from contact with family and friends.&#8221;

Police

Mexican National Arrested After Teenage Girl He Allegedly Trafficked Into U.S. Texted Hints To 911

Border Crisis

California

Crime

Mexico

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/chuck-grassley" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chuck Grassley</a> (R-IA) announced an investigation this week into reports that unaccompanied illegal immigrant children found at the southern border were being placed by HHS with people in the United States linked to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ms-13-gang" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MS-13</a>.
Grassely <a href="https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-scrutinizes-hhss-improper-care-of-unaccompanied-migrant-children" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that he was “conducting a sweeping review” of how HHS and its contractors find homes in the United States for illegal immigrant children who are found at the border without a parent or guardian. The Iowa Republican said he had sent letters to nine contractors to determine more about their vetting and placement process.
“My office has been informed through legally-protected whistleblower disclosures, including contractor records, showing children were sponsored without proper vetting or care, and at addresses that may be part of possible child-smuggling or trafficking rings,” Grassley <a href="https://www.grassley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/grassley_to_deloitte_consulting_llc_-_orr_contractors_and_grantees.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a> in the letters.  
“Shockingly, children were even placed by HHS and one of its contractors after they were notified of likely MS-13 gang affiliation in the household, and records related to this placement appear to have been deleted, a possible attempt to cover up actions taken by the contractor and HHS,” he added. 
The contractors who Grassley reached out to were Deloitte Consulting LLP, Center for Family Services, General Information Dynamics Technology, Alba Care Services, Holy Family Institute, Global Refuge, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Morrison Child and Family Services, and Sunny Glen Children’s Home. 
Grassley told the providers to provide him with specifics on how sponsors for the children are verified, records on where and how the children were transported, and how the organization tracked outcomes.
The letters also referenced “an apparent obstructive instruction” from HHS when it sent a letter on February 28 telling providers to direct questions about their work to the government agency. 
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“I personally brought up HHS’ obstructive conduct directly with HHS Secretary Becerra on March 14 in a Senate Finance Committee hearing,” Grassley said. “At the hearing, Secretary Becerra affirmed that contractors have the right to respond to this congressional inquiry. Furthermore, Congress has the constitutional authority, and the duty to conduct robust oversight on government agencies and contractors who receive taxpayer money for their work.”
An inspector general <a href="https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/OEI-07-21-00250.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> released in February found that many children were released to sponsors who had not had their fingerprints checked or been run through state child abuse registries. The report also said that over a third of the time, HHS and its contractors did not ensure documents provided by the sponsor could even be read. 
Illegal immigration has remained high under President Joe Biden with record highs of unaccompanied children being found at the border.

OMB Director Shalanda Young Testifies Before Senate Budget Committee

Grassley Investigating Reports That Unaccompanied Minors Sent To Homes With MS-13 Ties

Children

Chuck Grassley

Health and Human Services

Illegal Immigration

MS-13 Gang

Border Patrol officials told lawmakers that smugglers charge illegal immigrants from China up to $60,000 to unlawfully enter the United States, according to a <a href="https://justthenews.com/sites/default/files/2024-01/Joint-CPA-Transcribed-Interviews-Report-01-16-2024-FINAL-pdf.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> released on Tuesday from Republicans on the House Committee on Homeland Security. 
Border Patrol chiefs told the committee earlier this year that transnational criminal organizations effectively controlled the U.S. southern border, charging thousands of dollars to people looking to sneak into America. The cost of entry into the U.S. increased depending on how far away you were coming from and where you were entering, they said. 
The average cost was estimated to be around $8,600, but could be around $60,000 if you were coming from China. A record number of Chinese nationals have been encountered by Border Patrol in the last year. 
Human smuggling and trafficking have proven to be an incredibly lucrative business for the cartels as a record number of illegal migrants have surged to the border under President Joe Biden. 
Chief of U.S. Border Patrol Jasen Owens estimated during his time as the Del Rio sector chief that transnational criminal organizations were making more than $30 million weekly on human trafficking and smuggling operations in that part of Texas. 
Aaron Heitke, the Chief Patrol Agent for the San Diego sector, said that “it costs more to go through an area that has a better chance of getting away.” 
Many women are raped during the process as well, with Heitke saying that some of the women see it as part of the payment to get through. 
The cartels exert heavy control over the southern border area, reportedly beating migrants who attempt to illegally enter the United States without paying them. Laredo Chief Patrol Agent Joel Martinez said that his team found two bodies washed up on shore, one of whom was shot between the eyes and the other whose head was half shot off. He said they suspect these were people who tried to cross without the cartel’s permission. 
During their interviews with the committee, the Border Patrol agents said that one way to deter illegal immigration would be to detain everyone instead of releasing thousands into the country with court dates set years in the future. 
“I think optimally, other than the rare occasion where you have someone with a crazy medical condition, everyone should be detained. And that, to me, is the most obvious way to not encourage illegal immigration, is everyone’s held until they have a hearing,” said Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin. 
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El Centro Chief Patrol Agent Gregory Bovino said that border walls helped as well. “In many of those areas now, where there is border wall, we see very little vehicular incursions across the desert between ports of entry, and a decrease in pedestrian crossings at the border, especially where the 33-foot wall exists,” he said. 
Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/delusional-biden-says-southern-border-is-not-in-crisis-as-illegal-crossings-surge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has denied</a> that there is a crisis at the border even as Border Patrol reportedly recorded more than 300,000 illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border in December, a new <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/us-mexico-border-crossings-all-time-high-immigration-news/14261305/#:~:text=Migrant%20encounters%20reach%20all%2Dtime%20high%20along%20southwest%20border%20with,is%20threatening%20to%20sue%20Texas.&amp;text=ABCNews-,There%20were%20302%2C000%20encounters%20along%20the%20southwest%20border%20in%20December,recorded%2C%20sources%20told%20ABC%20News.">record</a>.

TOPSHOT-MEXICO-US-MIGRATION-CARAVAN

Border Officials Reveal Steep Fees Illegal Immigrants Pay To Cartels To Enter U.S.

Border Patrol

Cartels

Immigration

Joe Biden

Smuggling

Southern Border

A high-end brothel network servicing &#8220;wealthy and well-connected clientele&#8221; in apartment complexes in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/massachusetts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Massachusetts</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/virginia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virginia</a> was uncovered by federal investigators, leading to the arrest of three men allegedly connected to the commercial sex ring.
&#8220;This commercial sex ring was built on secrecy and exclusivity, catering to wealthy and well-connected clientele,&#8221; acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua Levy <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/massachusetts-virginia-brothel-prostitution-commercial-sex-ring-arrests/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a news conference in Boston.
Authorities said in a <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/three-arrested-operating-high-end-brothel-network" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news release</a> the commercial sex buyers included elected officials, high-tech and pharmaceutical executives, doctors, military officers, government contractors who possess security clearances, professors, attorneys, scientists, and accountants, among others.
&#8220;Pick a profession; they&#8217;re probably represented in this case,&#8221; Levy said.
Levy said the identities of the commercial sex buyers were not shared, but indicated that could change as the investigation is ongoing and far from over.
The three individuals charged with conspiracy to coerce and entice to travel to engage in illegal sex activity included James Lee, 68, of Torrance, California, Han Lee, 41, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Junmyung Lee, 30, of Dedham, Massachusetts.
According to the court documents, the three men operated an interstate prostitution network in multiple brothels in Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts, as well as in Fairfax and Tysons, Virginia, from at least July 2020.
Authorities said the men allegedly enticed primarily Asian women to travel to Massachusetts and Virginia to engage in prostitution in rented high-end apartment complexes as brothel locations that were furnished and regularly maintained.
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The three men accused allegedly ran two websites that advertised nude Asian models for professional photography at upscale studios as a front for prostitution offered through appointments with women listed on their websites.
Levy said clients would first have to fill out a form with personal information, including their names, work information, email addresses, phone numbers, and a reference, before booking an appointment, costing up to $600 an hour.
The clients were then given a &#8220;menu&#8221; of options and paid the women in cash.
&#8220;Business is booming, until today,&#8221; Levy told reporters.
If convicted, the charged individuals face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
&#8220;It&#8217;s through these investigative efforts that we shine a light on sexual trafficking as a global issue,&#8221; Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow <a href="https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/feds-to-announce-sophisticated-high-end-brothel-network-bust-in-mass-va/3184748/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> said at the news conference.

Businessman in car giving money to prostitute, illegal sex trade, female escort

Three Men Arrested In Connection To Sex Trafficking Ring Servicing ‘Wealthy And Well-Connected Clientele’

Sex Trafficking Network Involving 'Wealthy And Well-Connected Clientele' Busted By Authorities, 3 Men Arrested

Department of Justice

Prostitution

Sex Trafficking

A suspected <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/human-trafficking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">human smuggler</a> drove a car full of people from Honduras into an SUV in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/texas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas</a>, killing eight people across both vehicles, state authorities said on Wednesday.
The crash happened on U.S. Highway 57 near Batesville, which is about an 83-mile drive southwest from San Antonio, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said post to X.
According to DPS, the operator of a Honda passenger car from Houston suspected of human smuggling passed an 18-wheeler in a no-passing zone while evading the Zavala County Sheriff&#8217;s Office.
&#8220;The driver drove head-on with a Chevy SUV, causing the vehicle to burst into flames, killing the driver &amp; passenger from Georgia,&#8221; the DPS spokesperson said.
&#8220;As a result, five passengers, including the suspected smuggler of the Honda, were killed. Troopers confirmed several of the deceased are from Honduras,&#8221; the DPS representative added.
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NEW: 11/8, <a href="https://twitter.com/TxDPS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TxDPS</a> is investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash on US 57 near Batesville. The driver in a Honda passenger car from Houston suspected of human smuggling was evading from Zavala COSO when the driver passed an 18-wheeler in a no-passing zone. The driver drove head-on… <a href="https://t.co/KdxZ7wmvkk">pic.twitter.com/KdxZ7wmvkk</a>
&mdash; Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) <a href="https://twitter.com/LtChrisOlivarez/status/1722318807857815631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The DPS spokesperson, Lt. Christopher Olivarez, posted images from the scene, showing the wreckage of both vehicles.
He provided an update identifying the occupants of the Chevy SUV as Jose Lerma, 67, and Isabel Lerma, 65, of Dalton, Georgia, in WhitField County and reporting that their family had been notified.
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CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/08/us/texas-deadly-crash-suspected-smuggler/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Olivarez later told the cable news network that six passengers in the Honda had died, making for at least eight total deceased victims.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin <a href="https://twitter.com/BillMelugin_/status/1722334087434608897" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> DPS is investigating the legal status of the suspected human smuggler and noted the passengers of the Honda were illegal immigrants.
Elected officials and others took note of the deadly incident by calling attention to President Joe Biden&#8217;s struggles with border security.
&#8220;President Biden’s open borders policies have invited 7M illegal aliens into our country — with deadly consequences,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/1722368500306530634" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) in a post to X.
&#8220;Innocent Americans are dead after a vehicle full of illegal immigrants crashed head on while trying to get away from police,&#8221; <a href="https://twitter.com/VoteMarsha/status/1722349366218735985" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). &#8220;Another tragic consequence of Biden&#8217;s open border.&#8221;
Former Trump White House adviser Stephen Miller <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenM/status/1722342641357017167" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, &#8220;Biden’s immigration policies are evil. And there is not nearly enough outrage in Washington. Not even close.&#8221;
The crash took place less than a year and a half after a deadly smuggling incident in which the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/mass-fatalities-police-find-migrants-truck-san-antonio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bodies of dozens of migrants</a> were found in the back of a tractor-trailer around San Antonio. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/three-people-taken-into-custody-after-deadliest-smuggling-incident-in-american-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Multiple</a> people have been arrested and charged in connection to that tragedy.

Texas police

8 Killed In Texas Crash Involving Suspected Human Smuggler

Texas

Sen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ted-cruz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ted Cruz</a> (R-TX) shared this week what he saw at the U.S. border during his most recent visit to an area in his home state that has turned into a catastrophe zone because of Biden administration policies.
Cruz made the remarks during an episode of his &#8220;Verdict&#8221; podcast with co-host Ben Ferguson while talking about his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border late last week with Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE).
&#8220;One of the things we learned, which I had never heard, which is in the past year, the Biden administration has put out new guidelines for pursuit of illegal aliens,&#8221; Cruz said. &#8220;This is illegal aliens that are running, that are trying to get away. And the guidelines, you&#8217;d have to effectively call them guidelines for non-pursuit, because they are told you cannot pursue illegal aliens if there is anything that could potentially endanger someone&#8217;s safety.&#8221;
Cruz noted that for example, this meant that if there were four people in the back of a vehicle and there were only three seatbelts, agents could not pursue them because if there was an accident, a person would get hurt. He said that the policy has actually encouraged traffickers to do dangerous things because they know that agents won&#8217;t pursue because of Biden&#8217;s policy.
He said that during a midnight patrol, he saw a disturbing situation where there was a group of a couple dozen people, mostly women and children, and there were cues from things that the children said that officials believed was a sign that they were being trafficked.
&#8220;The one that was haunting for me was in the back there was this man, a grown man, maybe 35 years old,&#8221; Cruz said. &#8220;And he was with a little girl who was 10. And he said she was his daughter. She said he was her dad. It was obvious to everyone he was not her father.&#8221;
&#8220;He had his arm around her. And it was like locked tight, like he was holding her, almost so she wouldn&#8217;t run away,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;And the look of terror in that little girl&#8217;s face. She was so frightened of this large, sweaty man who had his arm around her and was saying he was her father. And there&#8217;s a frustration and helplessness that there&#8217;s nothing we can do, that nothing the Border Patrol can do. Because when they take them in, the Biden administration instructs them &#8216;release them.'&#8221;
Cruz said that Biden canceled DNA testing at the border so it was now much harder, if not impossible, to determine if children were coming into the country with their actual parents or if they were being trafficked.
&#8220;Biden canceled the DNA tests,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Like, you want to talk about one of the great scandals, these Democrats who prance around and say they&#8217;re so compassionate, they no longer test to find out if father and alleged daughter or father and alleged son are related because they don&#8217;t want to know, they don&#8217;t care. They are perfectly happy just leaving a pedophile with a little girl or a little boy who&#8217;s being abused.&#8221;
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He said that the little girl that he saw would likely be forced into prostitution for the next several years and that there was nothing any of the senators could do to stop Biden&#8217;s policies.
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Border Madness: Traffickers, Terrorists, &amp; Tragedy | Verdict Ep.186" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZcWcI2_958g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Republican Senators Hold Capitol Hill News Conference To Discuss The Southern Border

Ted Cruz Shares Horrifying Account Of What He Saw At U.S. Border

Biden Administration

Ted Cruz

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California</a> lawmakers sent a high-profile bill to classify child sex trafficking as a serious felony to Governor Gavin Newsom&#8217;s desk on Wednesday after the legislature unanimously approved the once-divisive measure.
The California legislature passed SB 14 in its final vote of approval in the State Senate to increase penalties for child traffickers, which allows state authorities to pursue life sentences under its &#8220;three strikes&#8221; law in some cases.
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BREAKING: The California legislature passes bill to classify child sex trafficking as serious felony, which would keep repeat traffickers in prison longer.
The bill now heads to Gov. Newsom’s desk after a final, unanimous vote of approval in the State Senate. The vote: <a href="https://t.co/ryc5zey8ZN">pic.twitter.com/ryc5zey8ZN</a>
&mdash; Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZavalaA/status/1702075579061924223?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;SB 14 will serve to protect future generations by stopping people from engaging in this horrific crime,&#8221; Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, who wrote the bill, said, according to the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-09-13/california-child-sex-trafficking-gavin-newsom-shannon-grove-crime-three-strikes-prison-justice-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles Times</a>. &#8220;SB 14 will send a direct message to those committing this horrific crime of selling our children for sex in the state of California that we will no longer stand by and tolerate this, and you will serve a lengthy prison sentence.&#8221;
Democrat state Senator Susan Rubio of Baldwin Park reportedly <a href="https://www.kcra.com/article/california-legislature-approves-billl-child-sex-trafficking-felony/45127369" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the passage of the bill sends a message to victims that California lawmakers &#8220;see you . . . hear you . . . [and] are here to help you.&#8221;
State Senators had unanimously passed the bill earlier this year, but it became controversial among State Assembly Democrats over the summer when the left-wing members of the Public Safety Committee took issue with certain language in the legislation that could potentially prosecute victims forced to help traffickers.
Grove reportedly said in response to the criticism from Democrat lawmakers that she changed the bill several times to reconcile the concerns.
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&#8220;We don&#8217;t want anyone who is a victim of violent crime like human trafficking to be charged or put in prison for that,&#8221; Grove said. &#8220;That is not my intent — that is not what the bill says.&#8221;
After facing heavy backlash nationally, including from Governor Newsom, the Assembly Public Safety Committee reversed course and approved the measure in a forced emergency hearing days after initially blocking it.
&#8220;When proposed policies punish more individuals than intended, the collateral damage to specific communities can cause a domino effect of irreparable injustice,&#8221; Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) said during an Assembly debate before he voted for SB 14 in July.
Newsom and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) reportedly weighed in on the matter and encouraged the committee members to approve the measure.
&#8220;Good to see. Thank you, @RobertRivas_CA for your leadership,&#8221; Newsom wrote in an X-post after the Assembly passed SB 14.
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Good to see.
Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/RobertRivas_CA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RobertRivas_CA</a> for your leadership. <a href="https://t.co/usNArT5bK1">https://t.co/usNArT5bK1</a>
&mdash; Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1701428507056939051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Newsom <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article277288433.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters in July that he had contacted Senator Grove in appreciation of her “efforts on this and wanted to make sure she knew that today,” adding that the issue is one “I care deeply about. Have since my time as (San Francisco) mayor, as a supervisor, working then with District Attorney Kamala Harris.”
The California governor, who signaled his support for the legisaltion, has an October 14 deadline to sign or veto SB 14 and hundreds of other bills.

(EDITORS NOTE: Image taken with drone)Flags of the United

Child Sex Trafficking Bill Classifying Crime As Serious Felony Passes CA State Legislature

California State Legislature Passes Bill Classifying Child Sex Trafficking As Serious Felony

Child Sex Abuse

Gavin Newsom

&#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-dominates-box-office-in-florida-texas-and-arizona" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sound of Freedom</a>&#8221; screenings at the military&#8217;s U.S. Southern Command have been pulled following a prior announcement that military members and their families would be able to watch the film, which deals with the horrors of human trafficking.
The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/actor-jim-caviezel-sends-message-to-fans-as-sound-of-freedom-surpasses-150-million-mark" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Caviezel</a>-led film was initially going to be shown at its headquarters &#8220;in support of SOUTHCOM&#8217;s mission to promote respect for human rights and combating trafficking in persons in Central and South America and the Caribbean,&#8221; according to material from U.S. Army Garrison-Miami manager Joanne B. Fitzgerald obtained by <a href="https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/extremism-disinformation/2023/09/05/qanon-embraced-film-pulled-from-screening-on-base-at-southcom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Military Times</a>.
The bottom of the material read, &#8220;the showing of this film does not imply or constitute endorsement by the U.S. Army nor SOUTHCOM,&#8221; the outlet noted. The free screenings were initially to be available on August 28 and then again on October 19.
Military Times noted that after it reached out about the initial screenings, SOUTHCOM canceled them and explained in an email to those on the base that free screenings were canceled until further notice in order to &#8220;prevent the appearance of copyright infringement.&#8221;
https://twitter.com/jimcaviezelfilm/status/1689244034198626304?s=20
The email included a message that said, &#8220;the film is currently available to view at local theaters, and personnel and their families who would like to see the film are encouraged to do so,&#8221; the outlet noted.
&#8220;The movie’s central theme and its connection to SOUTHCOM’s AOR and our Human Rights Office (HRO) Combatting Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) program are inescapable and will serve to raise awareness of the prevalence of trafficking in human persons and sexual abuse and exploitation within our area of responsibility,&#8221; the release added.
SOUTHCOM spokesman Jose Ruiz initially told the outlet that the &#8220;subject of the movie is something that&#8217;s of great concern to the command, in that it follows as part of its mission of countering transnational criminal organizations.&#8221;
&#8220;Because of the way these transnational criminal organizations exploit migrants — the hopes of migrants — in ways that end up being serious violations to their human rights, and unfortunately in some cases lead to the deaths of the migrants,&#8221; he added.
&#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-adds-more-international-dates-amid-films-success" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sound of Freedom</a>&#8221; comes from Angel Studios, the same company responsible for the popular faith-based television series, &#8220;The Chosen.&#8221;
In the movie — which is based on a true story — Caviezel portrays Tim Ballard, a federal agent who quits his job and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a young girl from sex slavery in South America.

Sound of Freedom

‘Sound Of Freedom’ Screenings At U.S. Southern Command Pulled

Celebrities

Hollywood

Jim Caviezel

Military Bases

Sound of freedom

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/cuba">Cuba</a>&#8216;s government claims to have uncovered a Russian operation to enlist its citizens to fight in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ukraine-russia-war">war in Ukraine</a>, but not everyone is convinced Havana is being honest.
A release from the Caribbean nation said criminal proceedings are underway in an effort to dismantle the human trafficking network for military recruiting purposes.
The announcement from the country&#8217;s Foreign Ministry said the operation targeted Cuban citizens living in Russia as well as in Cuba.
&#8220;Cuba plays no role in the war in Ukraine,&#8221; the statement said, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/09/05/1197617372/cuba-dismantles-human-trafficking-ring-recruiting-for-russias-war-in-ukraine">according to NPR</a>.
&#8220;It is acting and will act vigorously against whoever, from the national territory, participates in any form of human trafficking for the purposes of recruitment of mercenaries so that Cuban citizens use weapons against any country,&#8221; it added.
Russia&#8217;s government did not appear to immediately issue a reaction to Cuba&#8217;s statement.
But Yaroslav Trofimov, the chief foreign affairs correspondent of The Wall Street Journal, <a href="https://twitter.com/yarotrof/status/1698997433890435119">pointed out on X</a> that a Russian news article from Ryazan said &#8220;several Cubans signed up to join the Russian armed forces in May, some of them in hopes of acquiring Russian citizenship.&#8221;
The journalist also <a href="https://twitter.com/yarotrof/status/1698997433890435119">reacted</a> to Cuba&#8217;s announcement by calling it an &#8220;unusual step to go so public against Moscow.&#8221;
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), <a href="https://gimenez.house.gov/about">a Cuban-American</a>, expressed skepticism about the statement during a Tuesday appearance on CNN.
&#8220;I&#8217;m a little bit cynical about it, because there&#8217;s also reports that the Cuban government actually signed some kind of deal with the Russian government to send Cuban soldiers over to Russia to fight in Ukraine,&#8221; the congressman said.
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🚨On <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNN</a>: The Communist regime in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cuba?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cuba</a>🇨🇺 has continued to prop-up &amp; support Putin’s murderous war against the people of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ukraine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ukraine</a>🇺🇦.
Communist <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cuba?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cuba</a> has been sending mercenaries to Putin’s Russia for months— Havana isn’t fooling anyone with their latest stunt! <a href="https://t.co/mDgpBRBKbt">pic.twitter.com/mDgpBRBKbt</a>
&mdash; Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepCarlos/status/1699116215942144041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;And just like they did with — are they doing with their doctors, they&#8217;re going to pocket about 80 percent to 90 percent of the money, it&#8217;s like $2,000 a month per soldier, so that it helps the Cuban government,&#8221; Gimenez added. &#8220;And so, yea, I&#8217;m a little bit cynical about the announcement. It is the first of its kind though I have ever heard of it, but I sincerely doubt that they&#8217;re sincere.&#8221;
There have been Western intelligence and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-targets-neighbour-kazakhstan-with-army-recruitment-ads-2023-08-03/">media reports</a> in the past about how Russia has been recruiting foreigners and migrants for its war in Ukraine that has lasted now for more than a year and a half.
&#8220;Russia likely wishes to avoid further unpopular domestic mobilization measures in the run up to the 2024 Presidential elections,&#8221; the corporate news channel of the United Kingdom&#8217;s Ministry of Defence <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1698212159715459238">said</a> in a recent intelligence update.
On Monday, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kim-jong-un-expected-to-meet-with-putin-for-weapons-talks-reports">word got out</a> that U.S. officials believe North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may soon meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for negotiations on weapons that could impact the Ukraine conflict.
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that North Korea &#8220;<a href="https://twitter.com/YWNReporter/status/1699116077936959514">will pay a price</a>&#8221; if it provides arms to Russia.

Cuba. Havana. Theatre Detail

Cuba Says It Busted Russian Op To Recruit For War In Ukraine; Not Everyone Is Convinced

Cuba

Russia

Ukraine-Russia War

World

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A group of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tennessee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tennessee</a> Republicans declared their intention to eradicate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/human-trafficking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">human trafficking</a> in the state at a Tuesday press conference during a hotly contested special session that has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gun-control-protesters-show-up-in-tennessee-as-public-safety-special-session-begins" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received national attention</a>.
The press conference, put on by the Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition, a conservative advocacy group, featured over a dozen Tennessee Republicans from both the state House and Senate and took place in the state’s old Supreme Court chamber in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nashville" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nashville</a>. The conference came as Left-leaning protesters showed up at the capitol this week to push for gun control.
The conference was held to discuss a bill dealing with mandating an annual report from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and putting more awareness on the issue of human trafficking in the state.
“One of the things we have not done enough of, is drag this issue out into the light,” House Majority Leader William Lamberth said. “Have the TBI and law enforcement work together with the legislature to identify every single community where this is happening and then allocate needs towards that.”
The bill, SB 7088, has the support of Lamberth and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson. Unlike many of the other bills that have been filed during the special session, it made it through the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.
“If you’re engaging in child and human sex trafficking in Tennessee, we’re coming after you. We’re going to war with you,” Johnson said.
Congressman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/freshman-republican-lawmaker-files-to-impeach-biden-over-illicit-family-business-dealings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andy Ogles</a> (R-TN) was also present and said that lawmakers had a biblical mandate to fight against trafficking.
According to a <a href="https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=SB7088" target="_blank" rel="noopener">summary</a> of the bill, it &#8220;requires the bureau to submit a report on child and human trafficking crimes and trends in this state, based upon data available to the bureau, as well as current programs and activities of the bureau&#8217;s human trafficking unit.”
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“Human trafficking is the scourge of our time. It happens in our communities. It happens a mile from where we live. It happens even closer than that on certain occasions. We are dedicated to saving women and children and eradicating this scourge,” said Aaron Gulbransen, the executive director of the Tennessee Faith and Freedom Coalition.
According to TBI, <a href="https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/nearly-600-kids-go-missing-in-tn-each-month-how-the-public-plays-a-role-in-their-safe-recovery/">there are</a> up to 600 kids who go missing in Tennessee each month. Some of these are runaways or children in remarkably complex situations; others are trafficked.
The issue of human trafficking has come to forefront <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/sound-of-freedom-creators-say-movie-is-not-in-the-least-political" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with the success</a> of “Sound of Freedom,” the story of Tim Ballard (played by Jim Caviezel), a federal agent who quits his job to rescue a young girl from sex slavery in South America.
TBI previously told The Daily Wire that most children trafficked in Tennessee are not foreign nationals, but kids who were born and raised in the state.

Drug addict young woman with syringe in action, Stop drug addiction concept, Do not interfere with drugs, International Day against Drug Abuse.

Tennessee Republicans Declare ‘War’ On Human Trafficking Amid Special Session

Tennessee Republicans Declare 'War' On Human Trafficking Amid Special Session

Nashville

Tennessee

“<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/movies" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sound of Freedom</a>” director Alejandro Monteverde and co-writer Rod Barr are speaking up about their intentions for the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">film</a> as it continues to surpass expectations at the box office.
The surprise hit film documents the horrors of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/human-trafficking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">human trafficking</a> by telling the story of Tim Ballard (played by Jim Caviezel), a federal agent who quits his job to rescue a young girl from sex slavery in South America. “Sound of Freedom” has brought in more than $160 million since its July 4 release on a budget of just $14.5 million.
Monteverde and Barr wrote a <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/sound-of-freedom-guest-column-1235565034/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guest column</a> for The Hollywood Reporter explaining they intended for the film to be apolitical from the start. 
“Way back in 2015, when we began researching and writing this project, we told each other many times, &#8216;If there’s one issue that can unite everyone, it’s ending child trafficking.&#8217; We still believe that. Child trafficking is not a conservative or a liberal issue. It is a fundamental human rights issue, one that strikes at our very core as human beings,” they write.
The “Sound of Freedom” creators go on to say that viewers see “the movie itself is not in the least political,” but is instead recounting what happened, with some minor creative adjustments due to the project being based on a true story and not a documentary.
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“In the development, research, and writing of the story, we don’t recall a single conversation with Tim about politics. Why? Because personal politics should be irrelevant when you are rescuing children from human trafficking,” Monteverde and Barr write.
The authors go on to reject the notion that “Sound of Freedom” was influenced by “conspiracy theories&#8221; and say that it should be uniting people and not dividing them. 
“We understand that everyone, including those of us who made the movie, have different perspectives on many issues. We made &#8216;Sound of Freedom&#8217; in a sincere effort to unite people around a fundamental human rights issue,” the director and co-writer conclude. “No single interest group owns the issue of trafficking. We all own it, because it is happening in the world we all share.”

‘Sound Of Freedom’ Creators Say Movie Is ‘Not In The Least Political’

'Sound Of Freedom' Creators Insist Movie Is 'Not In The Least Political'

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