Lansing, Mich., Sept. 10, 2020 — State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky (D-Livonia) introduced House Bill 6202 today to take concrete steps to curb human trafficking in Michigan. Pohutsky’s bill would prohibit hotels and motels in the state from providing rooms at hourly or sub-hourly rates to stop human labor and sex traffickers from using them in their unspeakable crimes.
“When we see stories of horrific crimes depicted in movies or on TV, it’s far too easy to deceive ourselves into believing those wanton acts of depravity and cruelty could never happen where we live,” said Pohutsky. “The truth is: human trafficking is a very real and active threat in communities throughout Michigan. Sisters, brothers, daughters and sons are being ripped away from their families and exploited for their labor and their bodies. We must take every step to stamp out this hideous and abhorrent blot from our society and eliminate every shadow that allows this insidious practice to continue.”
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, human traffickers often use hotels and motels to hide in plain sight. Between 2007-2019, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received over 6,500 contacts from individuals in Michigan, resulting in nearly 2,000 confirmed trafficking cases. Michigan has ranked 6th or 7th in the nation for highest number of reported trafficking cases since 2016.
# # #