That same day, 30 January, Pizano reported the alleged trafficking case to the state department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). The DHS responded via an unnamed spokesperson that: “Homeland Security Investigations received a tip about alleged human trafficking in [name of state withheld by the Guardian]. HSI takes all credible tips of human trafficking seriously and thoroughly investigates each claim. But they are not their mother.”Flora is the first client in a trafficking case in the history of the Human Trafficking Legal Center to be detained by ICE. That is when Trump took office and his administration rescinded a policy that protected crime and trafficking victims from detention and removal.

Source: The Guardian March 25, 2026 17:30 UTC