George Bush signs anti-trafficking bill
President Bush signing the original 2005 legislation. The latest 2008 bill strengthens anti-trafficking laws
It is probably not well known, but despite the generally negative view of President Bush, he has been a staunch supporter of anti-trafficking legislation, and under his leadership the U.S. State Department, Department of Justice and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have taken an active role in pursuing traffickers. This has resulted in hundreds of convictions and the rescue of over a thousand trafficking victims. President Bush has committed many millions of dollars towards the cause and although The Grey Man has no political allegiance it would be a pity to not acknowledge his efforts. On December 23, President Bush signed into law the ‘William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008′, a bill that enhances measures to combat human trafficking.
The bill imposes 10-to-20 year sentences on “brothel landlords” who use minors and harsher sentences for those convicted of “alien harboring” for the purpose of prostitution. It also limits U.S. funding to countries that use “child soldiers.”
The law makes federal crimes out of receiving financial benefit from trafficking, obstructing the investigation of human trafficking or conspiring to traffic humans. Importantly, funds seized from traffickers will not go to the government, but to help the victims. It will remain to be seen if the the bill has any effect as it was signed in spite of the objections of the Department of Justice, which sees some major problems in policing it.
We can only hope that President Obama can keep the best aspects of President Bush’s anti-trafficking legacy and also improve on it . Goodbye President Bush and thanks for your contributions to anti-trafficking. Welcome President Obama and we hope to see an ongoing effort to combat this terrible trade.
John
Tags: anti-trafficking legislation, human trafficking, President Bush