In a press conference Thursday, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced the results of a recent human trafficking sting operation. Despite being cut short due to Hurricane Milton, the operation resulted in 157 arrests, including 47 prostitutes, 96 “johns,” and 14 individuals facing various other charges. Sheriff Judd emphasized the collaborative nature of the operation, highlighting the involvement of numerous law enforcement agencies, social service organizations, and state agencies.
A major focus of the operation was rescuing victims of human trafficking. Sheriff Judd proudly reported that four potential victims were identified and are now receiving support from partnering NGOs. He stressed the importance of these partnerships in building trust with victims and potentially uncovering further instances of exploitation.
READ: Polk County Human Trafficking Sting Nets 157 Arrests: Disney Worker, 25 Illegal Immigrants
The Sheriff then shifted his attention to a “huge concern”: the presence of individuals in the country illegally. He presented a chart showing that 25 of those arrested were illegal immigrants from various countries, representing 16% of the total arrests. Sheriff Judd strongly criticized the federal government’s border policies, arguing that they enable and encourage illegal immigration and human trafficking.
“The approach of Hurricane Milton caused us to end our investigation earlier than planned, but it’s still amazing that in such a short amount of time we were able to put 157 people in jail, and three child predators. Sixteen percent of the suspects we arrested are here illegally, but were offered free medical, food, travel, and housing, compliments of the U.S. taxpayers – meanwhile hurricane victims are still waiting, and praying for help, said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
To illustrate his point, Judd shared the story of “Maria,” a woman from Venezuela who entered the U.S. illegally with her child. Maria flew to Mexico, walked across the border into El Paso, Texas, and was promptly greeted by Border Patrol. She was then provided with a DNA test to confirm her relationship with her child, given information about government benefits, and provided with free travel to Chicago and then Florida, along with free housing.
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Sheriff Judd played a video clip of Maria (using an alias) describing her experience. She recounted how immigration officials explained the benefits she was eligible for, including government assistance, health insurance, and food assistance. She expressed disbelief at how easy the process was and how welcoming the U.S. government was, despite her illegal entry.
Sheriff Judd expressed outrage at the situation, highlighting the disparity between the support offered to illegal immigrants and the lack of timely assistance for American citizens affected by hurricanes and other hardships. He questioned when the focus would shift back to supporting hard-working Americans instead of incentivizing illegal immigration.
Returning to the operation’s results, Sheriff Judd revealed the arrest of Travis Hutchinson, a 25-year-old human trafficker from Davenport, Florida. Hutchinson was exploiting two women, one from Colombia and one from Venezuela.
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The Colombian woman’s story further emphasized the ease with which individuals are entering the country illegally. She was recruited by a “coyote” who simply instructed her to walk across the border into a processing center. Both women were then flown from California to Florida.
Judd concluded by reiterating his condemnation of the federal government’s role in facilitating human trafficking and illegal immigration. He called for a change in policy to prioritize the needs of American citizens and secure the nation’s borders.
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