Addressing Human Rights Issues at Home and Abroad
Past and present human rights violations remain a top priority for federal law enforcement. A panel of guests from the Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (Human Rights Center) discuss the various disciplines that form the center, the resources at their disposal to safeguard human rights and thwart war crimes, and their work to prevent these crimes domestically and abroad.
Warning: this show contains graphic descriptions of human rights abuses including but not limited to Nazi war crimes, genocide, gender-based violence, and torture. If you find this discussion troubling, please contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information services in English and Spanish.
FEDtalk host Natalia Castro discusses the intricacies of human rights issues with Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center Program Manager Suzanne Priest, HSI Section Chief Lisa Fraser, and Associate Legal Advisor in the Human Rights Violator Law Division Kathryn Finley.
The team explains each of their roles within the Human Rights Center – which prevents known or suspected human rights violators from entering the United States, facilitates their removal if already inside, and works to prosecute and prevent these crimes from occurring globally.
The guests also provide a rundown of some recent cases that highlight the range of human rights abuses the Center combats.
Finley describes the recent removal of Friedrich Karl Berger, who served in 1945 as an armed guard of concentration camp prisoners in the Neuengamme Concentration Camp system. Berger never requested a transfer and participated in the Camp’s forcible evacuation through egregious conditions causing significant loss of life. Berger was living in the U.S. while receiving a pension from the German government for his service and after concealing his activity to immigration officials.
“We wanted to highlight this case… with listeners today because it is a true demonstration of the steadfast dedication of the Center’s work to pursue justice and ensure accountability for someone who participated in one of history’s greatest atrocities, no matter how long it takes. This case is a really important reminder as well that the U.S. will not serve as a safe haven for human rights violators and war criminals. It also ensures accountability and justice for survivors who are still around and family members of survivors in memory of those who were lost during that time,” Finley explains.
Fraser and Priest continued to explain two additional cases recently handled by the Center. These cases included an individual who participated, aided, and abetted in the persecution and murder of Tutsi people during the Rwandan genocide and a member of an elite Guatemalan army unit accused of taking part in the massacre in which Guatemalan special forces executed roughly 200 unarmed villagers, including women and children.
Fraser, Finley, and Priest work on a team combatting crimes against women including female genital mutilation (FGM), while also promoting education and outreach on the issue.
Priest explains the prevalence of FGM and its impact on women and girls around the world. Reports indicate more than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM. Additionally, The Centers for Disease Control estimates that approximately 500,000 women and girls in the United States are either victims of FGM or are at risk of being subjected to it.
“FGM has no known health benefits. The survivors of FGM, mainly young girls will endure medical and psychological complications throughout their entire life,” Priest explains.
Finley explains the legal evolutions in combating FGM both domestically and globally. In 2013, the U.S. amended federal statutes to criminalize the transportation of women and girls for the purpose of FGM. Just this year, Finley notes, this statute has been used to indict a woman for transporting a minor for the purpose of FGM – a practice called vacation cutting. Recently, a unanimously passed law promotes interagency collaboration to prevent FGM and strengthens criminal penalties for those who engage in the practice.
Priest and Finley explain the Human Rights Center not only prosecutes these cases but works to inform the public about the harms of FGM and provide aid to survivors.
“We developed this outreach program, Operation Limelight USA… [It] is… an overt operation led by HSI special agents and done at international airports in coordination with FBI, CBP, state and local [law enforcement], and airport police, but we also bring in survivors, the NGOs, and any others that will come to assist us to highlight the subject of FGM, educate the travelers, identify potential girls who may be at risk of vacation cutting… and encourage public support. Basically, we speak to passengers, give out flyers with information on how to report if there is a girl at risk and, for survivors, there is a list of resources as well,” Priest explains.
Operation Limelight typically occurs around holidays and common vacation times. Since June 2017, the Operation has conducted outreach operations at 18 U.S. airports and have engaged with nearly 4,000 passengers on 168 flights.
To learn more about FGM, read the Human Rights Center’s one pager on the issue: FGM (English) 3-11-2020.pdf (state.gov)
If you know someone who has been a victim of FGM or have information about an individual who is suspected of assisting in this crime, please call the ICE tip line at (866) 347-2423 or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or complete the ICE online tip form or FBI online tip form. All are staffed around the clock, and tips may be provided anonymously.
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