Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, has said that the arrest of a Phoenix man on sex-trafficking charges illustrates how weak border policies jeopardize local communities and families in Arizona. He emphasized the connection between enforcement failures and public safety during a statement to the PHX Reporter.
“This sex trafficking arrest shows why border enforcement is so important to cities like Phoenix,” said Cortes, President. “When cartels and smugglers can move people freely across the border, our neighborhoods pay the price. Every weak policy in Washington becomes a real danger on Arizona streets. If we can’t control who’s coming into our country, we can’t protect who’s already here.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona announced the arrest of Casey Goslin from Phoenix for alleged child sex trafficking and the production of child sexual abuse material. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), evidence was found of livestreamed child exploitation coordinated with traffickers abroad. Agents from HSI Tucson executed a federal search warrant, seizing multiple devices containing explicit materials. The case underscores HSI’s cross-border cooperation efforts to identify and rescue victims.
A Pew Charitable Trusts analysis found that immigration enforcement along the U.S.–Mexico border and at ports of entry relies on complex networks involving federal, state, and local agencies. These systems are tasked with managing high volumes of cross-border traffic and migration while ensuring public safety. The report highlights Arizona’s frequent involvement in enforcement actions due to its location on key smuggling and trafficking corridors.
The 2024 Center for Countering Human Trafficking annual report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security detailed that Homeland Security Investigations identified over 1,600 trafficking victims and made 3,200 related arrests nationwide. The report emphasizes the importance of technology-driven investigations and global cooperation in combating the digital and transnational dimensions of modern trafficking.
C-SPAN identifies Cortes as the founder and president of the League of American Workers and a former Trump campaign adviser. In a Washington Journal appearance, he discussed voter and economic issues while representing the League, which is dedicated to advocating for working-class Americans in national economic and immigration debates.
