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SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 24

TH LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Jane M. Garcia

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE

EXTENT OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN NEW MEXICO AND TO MAKE

RECOMMENDATIONS.

WHEREAS, human trafficking is a serious problem in the

United States and throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, human traffickers prey on the most vulnerable and

turn a commercial profit at the expense of innocent lives; and

WHEREAS, victims of trafficking are recruited, transported

or sold into all forms of forced labor and servitude, including

prostitution, sweatshops, domestic service and farming; and

WHEREAS, each year an estimated six hundred thousand to

eight hundred thousand women, men and children are trafficked

against their will across international borders, fourteen

thousand five hundred to seventeen thousand five hundred of

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whom are trafficked into the United States; and

WHEREAS, approximately eighty percent of trafficking

victims are female, and seventy percent of those female victims

are trafficked for the commercial sex industry; and

WHEREAS, the southwest border continues to serve as the

biggest point of illegal entry into the United States, largely

because traffickers are able to get aliens across without

documents;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of public safety be

requested to assemble and chair a task force to assess the

nature and extent of human trafficking in New Mexico, to assess

state responses to date and to make recommendations to the

legislature for development of state law to prosecute

traffickers and for provision of services to victims; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force consist of a

representative of the attorney general's office; the department

of public safety; the labor department; the department of

health; the children, youth and families department; and the

commission on the status of women; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force may also

include representatives from the New Mexico coalition against

domestic violence; the southwest women's law center; an

immigrant or refugee rights center; a refugee services

organization; a child and youth advocacy organization; an

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interfaith religious organization, or a mental health services

advocacy organization; or a human rights or social justice

advocacy organization; and other members as deemed necessary;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force study the

nature and extent of human trafficking in this state;

investigate collaborative models for protecting victims of

trafficking; measure and evaluate New Mexico's progress in

preventing trafficking, assisting victims of trafficking and

prosecuting traffickers; evaluate approaches by other state and

local governments to increase public awareness of human

trafficking; and analyze existing state laws dealing with

trafficking; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force prepare a

report detailing its findings and recommendations, including

methods to address human trafficking and to provide a

coordinated system of support and assistance to its victims;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its

findings and recommendations to the governor and the

legislature by July 1, 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor and the secretary of public safety.

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