Grown men don’t cry. Do they? Well, maybe you’ll excuse these United States Congressmen who got a little teary-eyed when Operation Underground Railroad Founder and CEO Tim Ballard told them how he and his Jump Teams are rescuing children from sex trafficking.
It was a clandestine meeting initiated by the wife of a congressman who saw reports of O.U.R.’s recent rescues. When you successfully orchestrate the largest known child rescue operation in the world, people do tend to notice.
In fact, the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee was so impressed with O.U.R. that they invited Ballard to Washington, D.C. in November to report on the rescue that saved 123 victims, among whom approximately 55 were minors, from several sex trafficking rings in Colombia.
That little get-together resulted in a tête-à-tête in Colombia with several U.S. Congressmen and the U.S. Ambassador to Colombia as well as a few Colombian dignitaries. “It was a great opportunity for us to develop relationships and discuss how we can support each other,” Ballard said.
U.S. Congressman Royce (L) with Tim Ballard and Dignitaries
That support could come in a number of ways, including formalizing relationships with O.U.R., opening doors to various countries, working with foreign embassies, and supporting development.
The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA) attended the meeting along with Congressman Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Congressman Ted Yoho (R-FL), Congressman Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA), Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), and Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY).
In a second meeting, U.S. Ambassador Kevin Whitaker and various Colombian representatives made it clear that they would like O.U.R. to keep a presence in Colombia to help combat sex trafficking and kidnapping. Doing so could elevate the country from tier two to tier one per the U.S. Department of State ranking system, making them eligible for more grants and support from the U.S.
To show their good faith in combating this plague, Colombia has already conducted three successful raids on child sex trafficking since O.U.R.’s original “Operation Triple Take” last month, resulting in dozens rescued and arrested.
An O.U.R. representative also met with the director of Renacer, the organization that is helping rehabilitate the rescued children. “The girls are doing well. Some have already been placed back with their parents while others remain at the foundation receiving the help they need,” said Ballard.
The U.S. Ambassador and his invited Colombian guests, many of whom assisted with Operation Triple Take, were treated to a special showing of the nearly completed documentary about O.U.R.’s multiple rescues entitled The Abolitionists. A high-ranking U.S. official’s impressions were reassuring. “Don’t change a thing, he told me. We love it like it is,” said Ballard. The documentary is planned for a theatrical release early next year. You can watch a sample of the film here.
The two congressmen from California, Royce (R) and Vargas (D), have already committed to helping O.U.R. with its satellite station in Orange Country, which is run by a former Navy Seal. Ballard is happy to have the bipartisan support of a Democrat and a Republican congressman. “That’s exactly how it should be,” he said. “We don’t want to be favored by one party or the other. We’re all in this together.”
Written by Cheryl L. Karr
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