A Fort Worth, Texas home was raided by the FBI on December 23, and 21 tortured victims of human trafficking were rescued. Two accused human traffickers were arrested during the raid.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), an organization which is assisting the victims, made a statement released by their president, Domingo Garcia. They said the 21 refugees were from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.
Garcia confirmed that the victims had been held captive and were found naked, starving, freezing and terrified.
The arrested abductors, Plata Ibarra, 35, and Gonzalo Ramirez, 33, were taken into custody and charged with human trafficking.
The tortured victims hadn’t been fed for days, including a toddler who was starving because her mother could not produce breast milk.
LULAC confirmed that the rescued people were released to the agency’s care, and they provided them with food, shelter, medical care and clothing.
The victims will not be deported because they are granted temporary immunity from deportation under visa provisions that protect victims of alleged crimes.
Hilda Duarte, LULAC’s national chaplain, who is in charge of providing assistance to the victims, said, “When I got the call at 1:45 am, my heart raced, and I went into action mode.” The organization will provide them with help, including medical attention and essential items, and connecting them with family, if available, in the United States.
The rescue was a coordinated operation between the FBI and the Fort Worth Police Department.
