DHS and DOT Blue Lightning Initiative partners with Free to Fly to Help Prevent Human Trafficking

SEATTLE - the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI), a strategic element of the Blue Campaign designed to combat human trafficking in the transportation sector has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Free to Fly, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting survivors of human trafficking crimes by providing emergency relocation flights, whether for safety, court trials, or reunification with family.

“The Blue Lightning Initiative is about mobilizing the transportation sector as a first line of defense against human trafficking. By joining forces with Free to Fly, we’re expanding that defense to include immediate, compassionate support for survivors after they are identified,” said CCHT Deputy Assistant Director Tasha Reid Hippolyte.

Free to Fly now joins BLI as a national service partner providing direct survivor support after intervention has begun, and training personnel, volunteers, donors, and other public and private entities they collaborate with.

Free to Fly will:

• Continue to provide safe flights for trafficking survivors in support of HSI Victim Assistance Program Specialists

  
  

• Continue to provide immediate needs such as food, clothing, and emergency lodging during survivor relocation

  
  

• Train volunteers, donors, and partners to align with the goals of the Blue Campaign and Blue Lightning Initiative

  
  

“By joining the Blue Lightning Initiative, Free to Fly is helping advance the U.S. government’s victim-centered approach," said Nathan A. Emery, Unit Chief for HSI's Victim Assistance Program. "Together, we are equipping responders and partners with the tools to recognize trafficking, provide immediate support, and connect survivors with long-term resources.”

“Sometimes, relocation is the only way to ensure someone’s safety. We help everyone, if someone is a victim of human trafficking and a human being in need, we show up,” said Yolanda Christensen, Founder of Free to Fly.

Since January 2025, Free to Fly has focused exclusively on supporting federal anti-trafficking efforts, responding solely to DHS and DOJ calls for emergency transportation and survivor assistance. Their services provide a seamless handoff from federal identification to survivor recovery, filling critical logistical and emotional gaps during the initial stages when relocation is necessary.

“The U.S. Department of Transportation is proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Free to Fly to ensure emergency transportation assistance is available to trafficking survivors and that aviation personnel know how to recognize indicators of and report human trafficking suspicions.” said Julie Abraham, Director of the Office of International Transportation and Trade, U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Blue Campaign is the Department’s unified voice for raising public awareness and coordinating federal efforts against human trafficking. The DOT Counter-Trafficking Initiative, through mandates like the Combatting Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act (Public Law 115-99), leads initiatives across all modes of transportation to ensure that transportation workers are trained to identify and report suspected cases.

“This MOU affirms what we’ve always believed: for every cause, there is an effect,” said Christensen. “Each flight and mission completed by Free to Fly to help someone reach safety has resulted in significant success, even when faced with challenges. Every call is followed from start to finish, and we take great pride in providing this level of support in the counter-trafficking space. The Victim Assistance Program Specialists within HSI work tirelessly, and our partnership has been seamless with protocols ensuring survivors receive the necessary assistance for their safety.”

“I, too, have felt the fear of running for my life from an abuser. Although my life looks very different today, I will never forget what it felt like to be in that moment. We’re grateful to stand alongside DHS and DOT to make that safety and support possible for survivors,” Christensen added.

The Blue Lightning Initiative focuses on prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership efforts within the commercial aviation industry. By training personnel to recognize and report indicators of human trafficking, BLI serves as a critical frontline defense.

To learn more about Free to Fly, visit Free To Fly | Mending Broken Wings, Non-Profit. To learn more about the Blue Lightening Initiative visit Blue Lightning Initiative | Homeland Security . To learn more about DOT’s work on human trafficking, visit Stop Human Trafficking | US Department of Transportation.