Attorney General James Uthmeier and State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle have announced a new partnership to address human trafficking in South Florida. The agreement, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), brings together the Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Human Trafficking Task Force led by Fernandez Rundle.
The collaboration comes as Miami prepares for several major events in 2026, including the FIFA World Cup. Large gatherings are often targeted by traffickers seeking to exploit crowds.
“Human traffickers are known to exploit large crowds and global events to gain new victims,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “With Miami preparing to host the World Cup, our office is deploying prosecutors and resources to enhance deterrence, prevention, investigation, and prosecution efforts. I am glad to partner with State Attorney Fernandez Rundle to bring our offices together and fight against human trafficking.”
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle highlighted the risks associated with Miami’s growing profile as an event destination. “As millions of visitors recognize Miami-Dade County as a blossoming 2026 destination for national and international events, human traffickers also see our community as a target destination for their criminal activity,” she said. “The Attorney General’s assistance and this expanded partnership not only strengthens our efforts in arresting and prosecuting traffickers but also sends an unequivocally clear message that exploiting our children and vulnerable youth will never be tolerated in our community or anywhere in Florida.”
Rodney Barreto, Co-Chair of the Miami Host Committee for the FIFA World Cup, expressed support for the initiative: “I applaud the Attorney General for his participation in our anti-human trafficking program. Attorney General Uthmeier has consistently fought for justice as our state’s leading officer, and we are confident that with his involvement in this campaign, the threat of human trafficking during the World Cup in Florida will be addressed with the utmost seriousness and resolve.”
Statewide Prosecutor Brad McVay emphasized cooperation among authorities: “The Office of Statewide Prosecution looks forward to working with State Attorney Fernandez Rundle’s team. Collaboration between law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities are critical when it comes to combating human trafficking. As Miami prepares to host multiple large-scale events this year, preventative efforts are more important than ever, and I am confident lives will be saved through this partnership.”
Under the MOU, prosecutors from both offices will receive cross-designation allowing them jurisdiction across circuits. This is intended to ensure that offenders cannot evade prosecution due to jurisdictional issues. The agreement also provides $1.5 million in operational funds dedicated to preventing, deterring, investigating, and prosecuting human trafficking and related organized crime.
Miami-Dade has already hosted significant events this year such as the Orange Bowl, NHL Winter Classic, and NCAA Football Championship. Upcoming 2026 events include the World Baseball Classic, Miami Open, Ultra Music Festival, PGA Tour events, F1 Miami Grand Prix, NASCAR Cup Series Championship, and G20 Summit.
The public is encouraged to assist these efforts by reporting any information or suspicions about human trafficking through Florida’s statewide hotline at 855-FLA-SAFE.
The Florida State Executive Attorney General plays a role in community safety by providing resources for seniors and military members (official website). The office focuses on protecting Floridians from fraud through educational programs (official website) and operates consumer alerts on scams (official website). It collaborates with law enforcement agencies via initiatives like Back the Blue Campaign (official website), extends services statewide (official website), and works broadly in public service (official website).
To view the full Memorandum of Understanding visit here.
