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In the United States, human trafficking takes place far more often than most people care to acknowledge. In many cases, the buying and selling of human beings happens in plain sight, right under people's noses.

Whether it's sex trafficking via social media, labor trafficking in the restaurant industry, etc., human trafficking remains a very real problem in need of fixing. Sadly, data continues to show an uptick in human trafficking, rather than a decline.

Now, in a new developing story, federal authorities are digging into a case of suspected human trafficking of underage children.

Word from DHS officials

According to officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 50 children, some of whom aren't even teenagers yet, are believed to be victims of labor trafficking.

This is due to reports of these children being used to clean slaughterhouses for the Nebraska-based JBS Foods. Oddly enough, the company alleged to have unlawfully hired minors to work in slaughterhouses is Packers Sanitation Services Inc (PSSI).

DHS officials, meanwhile, maintain that because their investigation into this matter remains underway, they are not at liberty to publicly comment. Later, the officials stated those with further questions can reach out to the US Labor Department.

Last month, a probe by the Labor Department revealed the children were working for PSSI and JBS Foods, both in Nebraska and Minnesota.

Meanwhile, federal authorities explain that in employing these minors, PSSI breached labor laws that protect children from the following:

• Labor deemed to be "oppressive" for minors
• Exposure to employment determined to be hazardous

At least some of the children doing work for PSSI suffered from chemical burns and a lack of sleep. The latter is due to the children going to school during the day time and then working during night hours.

A PSSI spokesperson claimed the company has zero contact with DHS and remains unaware of any probe. Likewise, this spokesperson alleges that PSSI employs "rigorous steps" to abide by the law.

The US government's civil lawsuit against PSSI indicates otherwise, however.

More details coming soon?

So far, legal investigations into children working for Packers Sanitation Services Inc. and JBS Foods is still underway. Nevertheless, the fact that minor children worked in slaughterhouses, went without sleep, and suffered chemical burns does not look good.

There's a reason why the federal government is digging into what could very well be labor trafficking.