https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBXuAajv5gY&t=1s

82 individuals were detained in a recent human trafficking operation in Missouri and Kansas.

According to KY3, the US Department of Homeland Security announced the rescue of 31 people after an operation that took place in Kansas City, Missouri, Independence, Missouri, and Wichita, Kansas from June 17 to June 26.

Seventeen of those rescued were adults, while 14 were youngsters who had gone missing. The smallest casualty was a four-year-old child.

According to the department’s news release, “the enforcement operation resulted in the arrest of 82 individuals who will face charges related to soliciting prostitution, commercial sex trafficking, sodomy, narcotics violations, felony assault on a police officer, sex offender registry violations, and outstanding warrants.”

Executive Director Kris Wade of the Justice Project Kansas City told KCTV that the organization is assisting the individuals identified by investigators and wants others to be aware of the situation.

“We want people to realize that any child is at risk,” Wade said. “Any adult is in danger. Human trafficking may affect anyone.”

The organization also wants the community to recognize that some of the victims were minors.

Wade stated that the younger the victim, the more money the trafficker may earn.

Meanwhile, the migrant surge has increased the smuggling of children for forced labor and sexual exploitation, according to Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL), who described the border as a “huge market” for “child sex trafficking” in March.

During a press conference with Salazar and other Republicans, Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) emphasized that “human trafficking is slavery.”

“30 percent of the women and girls who come through this [migration] process will be raped,” he said.

“We can’t just sit back and watch that happen. He added, “We have boys and girls as young as six or seven years old being pushed into sex trafficking.”

According to Breitbart News, House Republicans blamed President Joe Biden for the border issue this week while examining the situation with former President Donald Trump.

“Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) tweeted that border cartels treat children as property. This needs to come to an end… The Biden Administration must demonstrate its ability to lead.’ The cartels also transport narcotics into the United States, exacerbating the opioid epidemic, Cawthorn did not disclose, according to the site.