Luis C. de Baca

Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the State Department (since May 2009)

(Brookings Institute)

Why He Matters

De Baca comes to the State Department with a reputation as the strongest champion of ending human trafficking in the U.S. government.

The fight against human trafficking has long been a passion driving the University of Michigan-trained lawyer. "It is a debasement of our common humanity, whenever we see something like that taking place," De Baca said at his 2009 confirmation hearing. Since he began working at the Justice Department in 1993, de Baca has convicted more than 100 traffickers and has helped rescue and rehabilitate over 600 former slaves. During his time in office, trafficking cases increased ten-fold.

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Corrections?

Background

At a Glance

Career History: Counsel, House Judiciary Committee (2007 to 2009); Chief Counsel of the Civil Rights Division's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, Department of Justice (2000 to 2007); Involuntary Servitude and Slavery Coordinator, Department of Justice (1993 to 2000)
Hometown: Huxley, Iowa

Alma Mater: Iowa State University, B.A., 1990, University of Michigan Law School, 1993, J.D.
Web site

Path to Power

De Baca was born in New Mexico and raised on a cattle farm in Huxley, Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1990 and then moved to Ann Arbor, where he attended Michigan Law School. There, he led the Hispanic Law Students Association and was an editor of the Michigan Law Review.

After graduating, de Baca joined the Justice Department as involuntary servitude and slavery coordinator. There, he developed the country's victim-centered approach to combating modern slavery. He took a hands-on approach to the problem, investigating and prosecuting trafficking cases of prostitution, farm labor, domestic service and indentured factory work. In one case, de Baca successfully took on a Mexican smuggling ring that forced thousands of deaf Mexican workers into servitude selling trinkets in U.S. subways and on the streets.

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The Issues

Experts estimate that there are between 12.3 million and 27 million slaves worldwide and that as many as 50,000 people are brought to the U.S. against their will annually. In his new position, de Baca will face the challenging task of helping current victims and preventing new cases from developing.

De Baca supports a three-pronged approach to human trafficking: prevention, prosecution and protection. He said he will also work with non-profits, private companies, law enforcement officials and international organizations to create a world that is inhospitable to human trafficking. "While we must confront the root causes of trafficking (such as poverty, lack of opportunity, the status of women, displacement and destabilization due to war or disaster), we must also address the markets where traffickers flourish not just through laws, but through a new understanding and attitudes," he said at his 2009 confirmation hearings.

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The Network

In the State Department, de Baca will find allies in Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Ambassador-at-Large for Women's Issues Melanne Verveer. Both have called trafficking one of the issues they are most interested in addressing.

When de Baca was on Capitol Hill, he worked closely with Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Rep. Conyers.

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