Recently there were several news stories regarding human trafficking and the dangers to children as well as to our community. Many of you wrote to me asking me for information. Well, below is information from our FBI partner on the subject and I thank Supervisory Special Agent Alan Santiago, a 23-year veteran of the FBI, who has extensive experience working violent crimes and crimes against children for providing this information.

The criminal victimization of children impacts not only the victims, but also their families, communities and society at large. Protecting children is a priority of every local, state and federal law enforcement agency in America.

The FBI seeks to protect children by decreasing their vulnerability to acts of sexual exploitation and abuse and to have a rapid and effective investigative response.

Within the FBI’s Miami office, the Crimes Against Children squad carries out this mission using a variety of investigative techniques, including undercover operations, depending on the violation.

The main targets investigated in South Florida are:

• Online groups and websites that exploit children. Many of these are restricted, invitation-only Internet groups created by pedophiles for the purpose of trading child pornography. Violations are punishable by not less than 5 to 20 years’ imprisonment.

• Producers and manufacturers of child pornography and major distributors of child pornography: punishable by not less than 15 to 30 years’ imprisonment.

• Individuals who indicate a willingness to travel interstate to engage in sexual activity with a child and individuals who entice children or attempt to entice a minor to travel interstate for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity: punishable by not less than 10 and up to 20 years’ imprisonment.

• Possessors of child pornography: punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

• Child exploitation through prostitution. Federal law prohibits the recruitment, enticement, harboring or transportation of a minor, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, knowing that the minor will be caused to engage in a commercial sex act: punishable by not less than 15 years’ imprisonment.

• Child sex tourism, or the sexual exploitation of minors overseas by United States citizens or permanent residents. Interstate or foreign travel for the purpose of engaging in any illicit sexual conduct with another person is punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment.

• International parental kidnappings, which are the wrongful removal of a child from the United States or wrongful retention in another country by a parent or family member. The abduction of a child is a tragic, traumatic event and a serious crime punishable by up to 3 years’ imprisonment.

The FBI works closely with local, state and other federal agencies to combat the criminal victimization of children. We rely greatly on the public to report child exploitation and abuse. If you have information about any of these crimes, contact the FBI at 305-944-9101. Children are the most vulnerable members of our society and must be protected from abuse, misuse and exploitation.

In closing, I want to say thank-you for the 215 emails I received from readers regarding the proposed budget cuts at our Miami-Dade Police Department. Thank you for your thoughts, your prayers and support.