Federal Assistance in Human Trafficking Investigation

Garden City, KS – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. announced that after requests from his office, federal officials will be assisting in the human trafficking case initiated by Finney County Sheriff’s office on August 14 in Garden City, Kansas. While details of the case are still confidential, requests for federal investigation and victim assistance services have been made.

“This Administration’s reckless open border policies encourage the trafficking of people and drugs. When illegal activity is not stopped at our borders, it arrives in our communities, making Kansas and every state a border state,” Senator Marshall said. “In cases of this magnitude, local law enforcement can only do so much, and federal agencies need to step up and provide assistance. Unfortunately, even our federal resources are now overwhelmed and can’t respond in a timely manner to the crises current policies have created.”

Background:
On Aug. 14 Finney County Sheriff’s deputies arrested two individuals on suspicion of human trafficking. Local law enforcement officials have identified multiple individuals as victims, including minors, and are working with those individuals to build a case against arrested suspects Jose Carlos Castillo-Alegria and Jesus Beatriz “Betty” Palomino.

DHS-HSI officials will arrive in person to process documents and interview victims. If you or anyone you know has information regarding this case, or any other case involving human trafficking, please contact Crimestoppers at (620) 275-7807, the Kansas Hotline at 1-800-KS-CRIME or in an emergency call 911.