With a background in social work, Felicitas Brugo Onetti used to work with victims of domestic violence, including at a prison, and she served women at a substance use rehabilitation center.
In both environments, she realized that most of her clients were victims of trafficking of some type, especially those who experienced substance abuse.
Working with many migrant families and the undocumented, she learned of labor trafficking, people “exploited by farm owners and just companies that were taking advantage of the situation … by holding their documents and things like that,” Brugo Onetti said.
Every issue she addressed in her social work always led back to some form of exploitation, whether labor or sex trafficking, she said.
“Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley recently interviewed Brugo Onetti, now anti-trafficking education and outreach coordinator for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and a speaker at next week’s Tekakwitha Conference in Bloomington
Human trafficking is a “significant concern in Native communities,” she said, with studies showing that Native Americans experience disproportionately high rates of trafficking compared to other U.S. populations. And Native and Indigenous communities have fewer resources than the general population, less support and more stigma, she said.
Underreporting is significant, Brugo Onetti said. She suggested that when one victim is identified, “there’s probably a lot more.” So Native communities are “extremely, disproportionately affected by this stuff, and so it’s always hard to measure it,” she said.
Perpetrators are “extremely talented in what they do,” Brugo Onetti said. Those coming into, or near, reservations to exploit Native women, children “and even men, oftentimes they’re using a lot of the manipulation tactics,” she said.
“We (USCCB) have some programs that we have established in terms of resources and trainings for parishes and dioceses,” Brugo Onetti said. “And … we’re hoping to develop some that are specifically tailored to Native communities as we work with cultural diversity in the office of USCCB to create some kind of portfolio for this community,” she said.
During the interview, Conley asked Brugo Onetti if certain demographics of trafficking victims are targeted. For her response and to hear the full interview, listen to this episode of “Practicing Catholic,” which debuts at 9 p.m. July 14 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM and repeats at 1 p.m. July 15 and 2 p.m. July 16. To learn more about the USCCB’s migration and refugee services, and information on its anti-trafficking program, visit www.usccb.org/committees/migration/migration-and-refugee-services.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes an interview with Heidi Giebel, philosophy professor at the University of St. Thomas, who discusses how Catholics should live their “best ethical lives;” and Father Michael Van Sloun, director of clergy personnel and coordinator of the archdiocese’s Comprehensive Assignment Board, who explains the reasoning and the process behind clergy assignments.
Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show.
