The Movie, Sound of Freedom Will Open Your Eyes to Human Trafficking

As we celebrate the 4^th of July, typically, the sound of freedom is the blaring sirens of police cars and fire engines at parades, the good-natured banter of family and friends at barbeques, and the detonation of various fireworks reminding us what John Adams suggested for celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence:

“[Independence Day] will be the most memorable Epocha in the History of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding Generations as the great anniversary Festival… It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”  

But this year, the sound of freedom on the 4^th of July could mean something quite different, something much more serious. The Sound of Freedom, a new film starring Jim Caviezel opening over the 4^th of July holiday, might well become the Uncle Tom’s Cabin of its time and just might wake up the collective consciousness of the American people to begin a national push to end the horrendous crime of child trafficking.

The Sound of Freedom is based on the true story of a former CIA and DHS agent, Tim Ballard, who quit his job and rescued children from the clutches of sex traffickers. Ballard now runs a foundation called Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), whose mission is to “lead the fight against child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation around the globe. Our work has no boundaries – we go to the darkest corners of the world to assist law enforcement in rescuing children and ensure ongoing aftercare.” It is estimated that 27.6 million people worldwide are trafficked as forced laborers and indentured servants and are forced against their will to create pornography. Of those trafficked, 27% are children.

Ballard testified before Congress in 2019 and provided more context of the extent of this plague in our own country. In his prepared statement, Ballard stated:

• In 2018, ICE made more than 1,500 human trafficking arrests, with over 97% of those for sex trafficking.
• It is estimated that 20,000 children were illegally smuggled into the U.S. in December 2018 alone.
• Since 2017, there has been a 136% increase in illegal immigrants bringing children into the U.S.
• There has been a 314% increase in adults bringing children across the border who are not part of their family unit.
• In December 2018, 5,121 children were recovered from those being brought into the U.S. illegally. Still, only 355 of these children were recovered at Points of Entry, meaning all others were smuggled in at various locations across the border.

The open border policies of the Biden administration have put many children and women at risk. In GMC’s previous articles, The Hardship of Illegal Immigration and Catholic Charities and Your Donation, we have chronicled the dangers of unrestricted immigration and the carnage left in its wake. Leftist do-gooders and Catholic/Christian NGOs like to claim that “no human is illegal” but fail to realize that there are trafficked humans who are nothing more than modern-day slaves forced to work in filthy conditions, create pornography for online consumption and used by pimps multiple times a day.

Many uninformed people dismiss child trafficking as a right-wing conspiracy theory. To those, we point out an article by the Daily Mail published last week about a so-called charity worker who tried to kidnap an 11-month-old baby to sell his organs on the black market for $25,000. This man is suspected of selling three other children. In 2022 alone, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 19,000 reports of possible child trafficking.

At a House hearing in April of the Subcommittee on National Security, the Border and Foreign Affairs, stated that “The ORR [Office of Refugee Resettlement] director couldn’t answer questions about reports that show HHS has lost contact with more than 85,000 migrant children in the past two years.” Where and with whom are all those missing children?

In a recent episode of Steve Bannon’s War Room, the producer of The Sound of Freedom, Eduardo Verástegui, claims that unaccompanied minors are coming across the southern border with a label bearing an adult’s name safely pinned to their clothing. It is unknown who the adults are or if they are blood relations. The children are often released without any vetting process. Sometimes, the children are provided US taxpayer-funded transportation to the location on the label without any further follow-up. In the face of this evidence, can anyone still believe this is merely a conspiracy theory? 

Others may believe that trafficking is occurring but cannot emotionally handle the ugly truth of children being sold for parts or as sex slaves. To this group, we say you can no longer keep your head in the sand to protect your feelings and keep yourself from emotional distress. Failing to acknowledge a problem makes you part of it and somewhat complicit in its perpetuation. No longer can you use the “I had no idea these kinds of things were happening” excuse to remain silent and go about your carefree life while children, perhaps in your neighborhood, are being exploited.  

We all need to support The Sound of Freedom movie financially. You will not be able to unsee these unspeakable crimes. Verástegui and Caviezel, who are faithful Catholics, decided to use the medium of film to inform and inspire others to join in the fight to end child trafficking.  Angel Studios, the movie distributor, has developed a website to purchase tickets. We need to pack theatres so the film will remain at multiple venues across the country for an extended period and also help spread the word about the horrors of child trafficking. There is even a “pay it forward” option if you cannot attend but can purchase tickets for someone else.  

We live in a time of extreme censorship of Christian ideals and the accompanying propaganda by the sinister forces who wish to break down the family and destroy our country. We need to mobilize good people – first to educate themselves on the evils of the left-wing revolution and then to demand an end to the policies in our country that promote the exploitation of children. GMC encourages you to see The Sound of Freedom this week. Be sickened by its depiction of child trafficking and vow to help stop it. As one of the heroes in the movie reminds us, “God’s children are not for sale.”