09-30-09

Ambassador leading U.S. efforts to combat human trafficking will speak at ISU Oct. 15

AMES, Iowa -- Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, President Obama's appointee to direct the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, will speak at Iowa State University on Thursday, Oct. 15.

CdeBaca, a Huxley native and Iowa State alumnus, will present, "U.S. Leadership in the Global Fight Against Slavery," at 8 p.m. in the Memorial Union Sun Room. The lecture is part of Iowa State's World Affairs Series, Latino Heritage Month Celebration and Constitution Day. It is free and open to the public.

CdeBaca has worked under three presidential administrations to combat human trafficking and modern forms of slavery. In his current position, he heads the office dedicated to pressuring foreign governments to free persons forced to work, under threat of violence, for no pay beyond subsistence. The office assesses global trends, provides training and technical assistance and advocates for an end to modern slavery. CdeBaca holds the rank of ambassador-at-large and senior advisor to the secretary of state.

Previously, CdeBaca was one of the most decorated federal prosecutors in the Justice Department. He led the investigation and prosecution of cases involving money laundering, organized crime, alien smuggling, official misconduct, hate crimes and human trafficking. He was honored with the Attorney General's Distinguished Service Award for his service as lead trial counsel in the largest slavery prosecution in U.S. history, which involved the enslavement of more than 300 Vietnamese and Chinese workers in a garment factory in American Samoa. He also received the department's highest litigation honor - the Attorney General's John Marshall Award - and the Director's Award from the Executive Office of United States Attorneys.

CdeBaca's family settled in New Mexico in the 1500s, and his great-great-grandfather was New Mexico's first elected Hispanic governor. He was raised on a farm near Huxley, participated in 4-H and graduated from Ballard High School. CdeBaca earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Iowa State in 1990, and received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was an editor of the Michigan Law Review.

CdeBaca's presentation is cosponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Department of Political Science, World Affairs Series and the Committee on Lectures, which is funded by the Government of the Student Body.

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