Q&A
Handling trafficking cases involving immigrant youth
1:20:19
ยท
78 sec
Council Member Farah N. Louis inquires about NYPD's approach to handling trafficking cases involving immigrant youth who may fear deportation or have limited access to resources. Lieutenant Joseph Picarello from the Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force responds to the question.
- NYPD does not ask victims about their immigration status
- All victims are treated with care and sensitivity
- Focus is on building rapport and trust with victims
- If a victim identifies as an immigrant, NYPD shares information about available resources
- The approach prioritizes supporting the victim regardless of their immigration status
Farah N. Louis
1:20:19
And just expanding a little bit on the conversation we just had about, immigrant youth.
1:20:25
I've worked very closely with the 75th precinct, the 6 7th precinct, but mostly the 75th, like the Louisiana area and East New York.
1:20:34
So we know that a lot of young people have been trafficked over there.
1:20:37
So I wanted to know how does the NYPD handle trafficking cases involving immigrant youth who may fear deportation or have limited access to resources.
1:20:46
You guys did it before, but if you could just expand on that because I
Carlos Ortiz
1:20:50
let Lieutenant Picariello.
1:20:51
He's been
Farah N. Louis
1:20:52
Yeah.
Carlos Ortiz
1:20:52
All over, that area down there, for a couple years.
1:20:56
Sorry.
Farah N. Louis
1:20:56
Thank you.
Joseph Picarello
1:20:57
So, it's not our practice to, number 1, ask any of these victims their immigration status.
1:21:06
So we handle all these victims with kid gloves.
1:21:09
And
Kathleen Baer
1:21:11
Mhmm.
Joseph Picarello
1:21:11
You know, so when they come in contact with us, it's obviously rapport building is is number 1 and, obviously, trust.
1:21:18
So this isn't something that we dive in and, obviously, we also look to share, what resources are available if if they make an omission that they are, in fact, an immigrant, so to speak.
Farah N. Louis
1:21:32
Alright.
1:21:33
Thank you for sometimes they identify themselves, but thank you for that response.
Althea Stevens
1:21:37
No problem.