The Center for Public Interest Law hosted a panel discussion to highlight the work of advocates on the Cook County Human Trafficking Taskforce on March 19.
Panelists Catherine Longkumer of the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services, Angelica Lopez of the DePaul Legal Clinic, and Rachel Ostergaard of the Salvation Army's STOP-IT program defined human trafficking, discussed common stories of their clients, highlighted strategies to stop human trafficking, and explained the unique legal needs and remedies available to foreign-born and domestic survivors of trafficking. Remedies range from immigration benefits to foreign-born survivors who aid in the investigation of human trafficking to a civil cause of action for survivors against their trafficker under the Illinois Predator Accountability Act. Students were given insight into how advocates in Cook County are working together to respond to this human rights issue and how legal and social services are critical to help survivors of trafficking.
The event was co-sponsored by the International Law Society, the Society for Asylum and Immigration Law, and the Latino Law Student Association.