It's not just in the movies, and it doesn't only happen overseas. Human trafficking is a serious problem locally. Toledo is fourth in the nation for the most arrests and prosecutions of human trafficking.
"There is sort of a corridor," says Senator Rob Portman. "There are some people in Toledo who engage in this horrible activity. Some of it does involve foreigners, but a lot of it does involve Americans."
The FBI tells us right now there are nearly 300,000 American youth at risk of sex exploitation and trafficking. Many of them are US citizens and children.
Senator Rob Portman is trying to stop human trafficking crimes in the halls of Congress. He launched the Senate Caucus to End Human Trafficking, and, so far, the senator has won some legislative victories.
In December, President Obama signed the End Trafficking in Government Contracting Act into law. It strengthens the rules against trafficking in connection with overseas federal contracts.
Last week, the Senate voted 100 to 0 in support of Portman's amendment to allow child victims of sex trafficking to benefit from programs set up under the Violence Against Women Act.
Portman says there is still more that needs to be done.
"Law enforcement needs to be in tune to it, and they increasingly are," he says. "This is an issue that has to involve the entire community."
Monday, June 17 2013 11:10 PM EDT2013-06-18 03:10:56 GMT
Around this time every year, millions of little mayflies blanket Lake Erie communities like Port Clinton, Sandusky and parts of Toledo. Despite some water quality issues in the last few years, the mayfly
Around this time every year, millions of little mayflies blanket Lake Erie communities like Port Clinton, Sandusky and parts of Toledo.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:35 PM EDT2013-06-18 01:35:53 GMT
Day 15 ends with no sign of the missing East Toledo toddler. FBI divers spent Monday combing the Maumee River for 18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth. The search boast spent five hours on the water near the
FBI divers spent Monday combing the Maumee River for 18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:25 PM EDT2013-06-18 01:25:26 GMT
Three missing Michigan brothers will be featured on national television this week. Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton went missing from their father's home more than two years ago. John Skelton is
Three missing Michigan brothers will be featured on national television this week. Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton went missing from their father's home more than two years ago. Former America's Most Wanted host John Walsh is investigating the case. He and a camera crew spent time in Morenci last December.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:18 PM EDT2013-06-18 01:18:25 GMT
It's been two weeks and counting and there are still no signs of a missing toddler from East Toledo. Elaina Steinfurth was last seen June 2. Since her disappearance, investigators and volunteers have
It's been two weeks and counting and there are still no signs of a missing toddler from East Toledo. Elaina Steinfurth was last seen June 2.
Monday, June 17 2013 7:57 PM EDT2013-06-17 23:57:59 GMT
Hail to the size of ping pong balls and golf balls, funnel clouds and uprooted, large trees have all been listed among the storm reports from central parts of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan
Hail to the size of ping pong balls and golf balls, funnel clouds and uprooted, large trees have all been listed among the storm reports from central parts of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan this Monday afternoon and evening.
Tuesday, June 11 2013 11:49 PM EDT2013-06-12 03:49:31 GMT
Little. Swann. Largent. Winslow. Four football greats gathered in our nation's capital for a common cause. The former players are seeking congressional support for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin
Little. Swann. Largent. Winslow. Four football greats gathered in our nation's capital for a common cause.
Monday, June 10 2013 3:30 PM EDT2013-06-10 19:30:45 GMT
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate is poised to pass a five-year, half-trillion-dollar farm bill Monday that would expand government subsidies for crop insurance, rice and peanuts while making small cuts in
The Senate is poised to pass a five-year, half-trillion-dollar farm bill Monday that would expand government subsidies for crop insurance, rice and peanuts while making small cuts in the food stamp program.
Tuesday, June 4 2013 5:34 PM EDT2013-06-04 21:34:31 GMT
If your kids are heading to college soon, listen up! The White House says Ohio students are expected to borrow more than $1.3 billion in government-subsidized Stafford loans over the next year. But the
If your kids are heading to college soon, listen up! The White House says Ohio students are expected to borrow more than $1.3 billion in government-subsidized Stafford loans over the next year.
Wednesday, May 29 2013 6:13 PM EDT2013-05-29 22:13:36 GMT
A local star speller made her way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee after winning the local Blade Northwest Ohio Championship Spelling Bee. She's getting the ultimate test this week in National Harbor,
A local star speller made her way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee after winning the local Blade Northwest Ohio Championship Spelling Bee.
Wednesday, May 29 2013 3:15 PM EDT2013-05-29 19:15:32 GMT
It was designed to help grow the economy, but some lawmakers on Capitol Hill say some parts of the bipartisan JOBS bill aren't in place -- more than one year later. 13abc's cameras were at the White House
It was designed to help grow the economy, but some lawmakers on Capitol Hill say, more than one year later, some parts of the bipartisan JOBS bill still aren't in place.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:35 PM EDT2013-06-18 01:35:53 GMT
Day 15 ends with no sign of the missing East Toledo toddler. FBI divers spent Monday combing the Maumee River for 18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth. The search boast spent five hours on the water near the
FBI divers spent Monday combing the Maumee River for 18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth.
Monday, June 17 2013 11:10 PM EDT2013-06-18 03:10:56 GMT
Around this time every year, millions of little mayflies blanket Lake Erie communities like Port Clinton, Sandusky and parts of Toledo. Despite some water quality issues in the last few years, the mayfly
Around this time every year, millions of little mayflies blanket Lake Erie communities like Port Clinton, Sandusky and parts of Toledo.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:25 PM EDT2013-06-18 01:25:26 GMT
Three missing Michigan brothers will be featured on national television this week. Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton went missing from their father's home more than two years ago. John Skelton is
Three missing Michigan brothers will be featured on national television this week. Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton went missing from their father's home more than two years ago. Former America's Most Wanted host John Walsh is investigating the case. He and a camera crew spent time in Morenci last December.
Monday, June 17 2013 7:57 PM EDT2013-06-17 23:57:59 GMT
Hail to the size of ping pong balls and golf balls, funnel clouds and uprooted, large trees have all been listed among the storm reports from central parts of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan
Hail to the size of ping pong balls and golf balls, funnel clouds and uprooted, large trees have all been listed among the storm reports from central parts of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan this Monday afternoon and evening.
Monday, June 17 2013 6:22 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:22:02 GMT
Adam Cassidy put his blood sweat and tears into serving our country, but now he's looking for an army of his own. "I was blown up like several times. I have brain injuries and I have Post Traumatic Stress
Adam Cassidy put his blood sweat and tears into serving our country, but now he's looking for an army of his own.
Monday, June 17 2013 6:12 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:12:32 GMT
Toledo taxpayers may be on the hook for more than$100,000 to reimburse the federal government for sloppy home rehabilitation work. It stems from a program aimed at helping people make necessary repairs. Sometimes
An audit by the Department of Housing and Urban Development reveals a lack of oversight by Toledo into a federal home rehabilitation program meant sloppy, costly, unfinished work.
Monday, June 17 2013 6:06 PM EDT2013-06-17 22:06:19 GMT
Erie County police thought they were working a theft case at the Sandusky Walmart, but it turned into a drug bust. Perkins Township police say 21-year-old Esteban Ramirez and a child were running from
Erie County police thought they were working a theft case at the Sandusky Walmart, but it turned into a drug bust.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:18 PM EDT2013-06-18 01:18:25 GMT
It's been two weeks and counting and there are still no signs of a missing toddler from East Toledo. Elaina Steinfurth was last seen June 2. Since her disappearance, investigators and volunteers have
It's been two weeks and counting and there are still no signs of a missing toddler from East Toledo. Elaina Steinfurth was last seen June 2.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:03 PM EDT2013-06-18 01:03:21 GMT
Most movies are made in big cities like Los Angeles or New York. But three local filmmakers are raising money to shoot their movie right here in Toledo and you can help. They need to raise $100,000
Three local filmmakers seeking $100,000 in donations in order to shoot "Market Corrections" in Toledo using local cast and crew.
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