Austin Adult Entertainment: Perry wants stiffer penalties for human traffickers
AUSTIN — Amid growing evidence that young women and girls in Mexico are being lured into a life of slavery and prostitution in the United States, Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday proposed increasing the penalties for human trafficking in Texas.
Perry said if re-elected he will ask the Legislature to create a new penalty for human trafficking that includes sentences of 25 years to life.
The punishment would be for someone convicted of at least two incidents of human trafficking that occur at least 31 days apart.
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Human trafficking most often involves the sex trade, with gangs trapping women in a life of prostitution.
Perry’s proposal would be directed at gang members who run the prostitution rings rather than the clients.
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Besides prostitution, some of the individuals are brought into the United States for hard labor in construction and agriculture. Many of the traffickers are believed to be in trans-national gangs.