The District of Utah is marking National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, joining the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in their efforts to combat human trafficking and support victims. The month-long observance is intended to raise awareness, increase operational efforts, and strengthen partnerships among federal, state, and local agencies.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “This Department of Justice is working tirelessly alongside our partners to dismantle human trafficking networks, help survivors, and protect vulnerable populations from being exploited. Under this administration we have seen an increase in human trafficking prosecutions, and during Human Trafficking Prevention Month we reaffirm our commitment to prosecuting traffickers and encourage Americans to report instances of human trafficking in their communities.”
United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement: “Through the Homeland Security Task Force, President Trump is taking the fight directly to human trafficking networks and disrupting their modern-day slave trade while seizing their assets and arresting their kingpins and foot soldiers. The American people should not have to live in fear of cartels, gang bangers, and foreign terrorists preying upon the most vulnerable among us. The Homeland Security Task Force is the largest coordinated campaign against transnational criminal organizations in U.S. history, and I’m proud to co-lead it with Attorney General Bondi.”
FBI Director Kash Patel added: “During Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the FBI reiterates our work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and national victim-based advocacy groups in joint task forces to protect our communities across the country. The horrifying reach of human trafficking spreads far and wide. Homeland Security Task Forces are fighting back to disrupt these perilous networks and put a stop to that reach. The FBI will continue our investigations and bring justice to those exploited by human traffickers.”
U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah emphasized local impacts: “Human traffickers live among our communities throughout the nation, and Utah is not immune to these types of crimes. As with this administration, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to combat the evils of human trafficking. Along with our law enforcement partners, we reaffirm our commitment to investigate and prosecute these horrific crimes and hold these traffickers accountable.”
President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Order 14159 in January 2025 which directed DOJ and DHS leaders to establish Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTFs) nationwide aimed at ending criminal cartel activity as well as cross-border smuggling operations.
Recent prosecutions in Utah include Bobby Antwone Jones—indicted on charges related to transporting a minor for sexual activity—and Aaron Kern—who pleaded guilty on attempted transportation for prostitution charges; both cases are ongoing.
In January 2026, DHS and DOJ increased resources devoted specifically toward identifying investigations at multiple locations across border states; coordinating victim recovery through specialized squads; partnering with transportation providers like AMTRAK for public awareness campaigns; distributing funds recovered from illicit websites such as Backpage for victim restitution; organizing outreach events at educational institutions.
On August 25th last year HSTF launched a surge that included 400 operations nationwide over a period of 43 days resulting in thousands of arrests—including members from major transnational criminal organizations—and significant seizures of weapons, cash totaling more than $3 million dollars, as well as large quantities of narcotics.
