While human trafficking is a constant fixture in mainstream media, the reality of the crime remains widely misunderstood. Operating as a multi-billion-dollar transnational industry, it infiltrates every state and territory in the U.S. and every corner of the globe. This session moves beyond the headlines to dismantle common myths and provide a clear-eyed look at the current state of the issue. Attendees will gain a high-level understanding of human trafficking, the current domestic and international landscape, and recent legislative shifts. This session also explores effective public awareness strategies and provides actionable steps to engage in the counter-trafficking movement.
About the Speaker
Michael Camal is a leading anti-human trafficking expert with nearly a decade of experience at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As a former senior manager at the DHS Blue Campaign, Camal implemented the Department’s national public awareness strategy, overseeing critical initiatives including the survivor consultant network and tribal engagement. Camal is best known for his transformative leadership of the Blue Lightning Initiative. Under his direction, the aviation program expanded from 17 to 150 partners—integrating airports, private aviation, universities and foreign airlines for the first time. This expansion resulted in the training of over 350,000 frontline staff, directly leading to victim recoveries and federal investigations into human trafficking networks. For his public service work, Camal was selected as a finalist for the 2023 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal and the 2024 University of Rhode Island (URI) Provost Award for Ethical Leadership and Community Engagement. A Master of Arts candidate in Human Rights Practice at the University of Arizona and a URI alumnus, Camal is currently translating his expertise into film in producing a documentary on a Boston-based labor trafficking case.