Our Rescue
{{short description|U.S.-based nonprofit organization}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}{{Infobox organization
| name = Operation Underground Railroad
| logo = Our Rescue logo.svg
| type = Non-governmental organization, non-profit organization
| tax_id = 46-3614979
| founded_date = October 2013
| abbreviation = O.U.R.
| named_after = Underground Railroad
| founder = Tim Ballard
| founding_location = Salt Lake City, Utah
| key_people = Derek Benner (current CEO)
Tammy Lee (former CEO)
Tim Ballard (former CEO)
| area_served = Global
| focus = Humanitarian
| method =
| homepage = {{URL|ourrescue.org}}
}}
File:Operation Underground Railroad (43837931182).jpg
Our Rescue (previously Operation Underground Railroad, abbreviated O.U.R., previously styled as "OUR Rescue"{{cite web |url=https://tcbmag.com/anti-trafficking-nonprofit-will-relocate-to-minneapolis |title=Anti-Trafficking Nonprofit Will Relocate to Minneapolis |first=Liz |last=Fedor |work=Twin Cities Business |date=October 28, 2024}}) is a nonprofit United States–based anti–sex trafficking organization founded in 2013 by Tim Ballard. The organization has been criticized for its conduct during sting operations and has been accused of exaggerating claims regarding its work. The group has conducted multiple sting operations, some outside the United States, and donated technological and monetary resources to law-enforcement agencies that combat sex trafficking.{{Cite news |last=Hartman |first=Taylor |title=Claims of Utah group's involvement in child exploitation investigations under scrutiny |url=https://www.standard.net/police-fire/2021/oct/22/claims-of-utah-groups-involvement-in-child-exploitation-investigations-under-scrutiny/ |work=Standard-Examiner |date=October 22, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2023 }}
The group's founder, Tim Ballard, was the subject of an internal investigation in 2023 after multiple former employees accused him of "sexual harassment, spiritual manipulation, grooming, and sexual misconduct". Ballard resigned as CEO in June 2023, as a result of the investigation. Weeks later, the organization was named in two separate lawsuits, in which the plaintiffs accused Tim Ballard of sexual assault, grooming, and coercing women into sexual acts during Our Rescue's sting operations.
In a December 2023 statement posted on its website, the organization said an independent law firm reached the conclusion that Ballard had "engaged in unprofessional behavior that violated OUR's policies and values".{{cite web |last1=Beal-Cvetko |first1=Bridger |title=Operation Underground Railroad announces new leadership after Tim Ballard ouster |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/50868668/operation-underground-railroad-announces-new-leadership-after-tim-ballard-ouster |website=www.ksl.com |publisher=Deseret Digital Media |access-date=13 February 2024 |language=en}}
Founding
File:Tim Ballard, 2018 (hUUIrui-DUo).jpg in 2018]]
Operation Underground Railroad was founded in 2013 by Tim Ballard.{{Cite news |last=Hanson |first=Kurt |title=Operation Underground Railroad: Saves lives in ways most can't |language=en |work=Daily Herald |url=http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/operation-underground-railroad-saves-lives-in-ways-most-can-t/article_2ffb9b8a-7c7e-5f1f-b28f-e3227047edb0.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2019-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108162953/http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/operation-underground-railroad-saves-lives-in-ways-most-can-t/article_2ffb9b8a-7c7e-5f1f-b28f-e3227047edb0.html |archive-date=2020-11-08}}
Ballard has said that, prior to founding Our Rescue, he served 12 years as a U.S. Special Agent for the Department of Homeland Security, on the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and the U.S. Child Sex Tourism Jump Team. According to The Atlantic, "spokespeople for the CIA and DHS said they could not confirm Ballard's employment record without his written permission, which he did not provide."{{cite web |last=Tiffany |first=Kaitlin |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/01/children-sex-trafficking-conspiracy-epidemic/620845/ |title=The Great (Fake) Child-Sex-Trafficking Epidemic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211209145827/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/01/children-sex-trafficking-conspiracy-epidemic/620845/ |archive-date=December 9, 2021 |url-status=live |work=The Atlantic |date=December 9, 2021 |access-date=April 23, 2023}} According to Ballard, he was frustrated with the lack of strategies employed to rescue kidnapped and trafficked children in underdeveloped nations, and the inability to prosecute offenders in non-U.S. related cases.{{Cite web| last=Byrne Reilly |first=Richard |title = Tech startup Operation Underground Railroad is saving kids from human traffickers| work = VentureBeat | access-date = 2016-05-16| date = 2014-04-26| url = https://venturebeat.com/2014/04/26/tech-startup-operation-underground-railroad-is-saving-kids-from-human-traffickers/| archive-date = 2016-06-30| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160630212903/http://venturebeat.com/2014/04/26/tech-startup-operation-underground-railroad-is-saving-kids-from-human-traffickers/| url-status = live}} Subsequently, he left government service in October 2013 to found Operation Underground Railroad.{{Cite web| title = The New Abolitionists| work = Foreign Policy| access-date = 2016-05-16| url = https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/07/22/the-new-abolitionists-mexico-dominican-republic-human-trafficking-mormon-our/| archive-date = 2016-05-16| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160516030827/http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/07/22/the-new-abolitionists-mexico-dominican-republic-human-trafficking-mormon-our/| url-status = live}}
Controversies
=Justice Department warning=
In February 2016, the Justice Department advised members of ICAC against "being involved in, assisting or supporting operations with" the Our Rescue; the commander of ICAC's Washington branch stated in an email to state and local police that Our Rescue was not affiliated with ICAC and that "no task-force group should partner with O.U.R. or provide O.U.R. with 'any resources, equipment, personnel, training'."{{cite news |last=Winerip |first=Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/26/magazine/sex-offender-operation-net-nanny.html |title=Convicted of Sex Crimes, but With No Victims |work=The New York Times |date=September 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929144602/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/26/magazine/sex-offender-operation-net-nanny.html |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=April 24, 2023}}
=Connections to QAnon=
A September 2020 Vice News article described Our Rescue as "QAnon-adjacent" and embracing followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory, which other trafficking charities had distanced themselves from. Ballard told The New York Times, "Some of these theories have allowed people to open their eyes. So now it's our job to flood the space with real information so the facts can be shared."{{Cite news|last=Roose|first=Kevin|date=2020-08-12|title=QAnon Followers Are Hijacking the #SaveTheChildren Movement|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/12/technology/qanon-save-the-children-trafficking.html|access-date=2021-06-05|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2020-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812091409/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/12/technology/qanon-save-the-children-trafficking.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Donald Trump Is Gone, But QAnon's Sex Trafficking Conspiracies Are Here To Stay|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/otilliasteadman/qanon-sex-trafficking-conspiracy-extremism|access-date=2021-06-05|website=BuzzFeed News|date=23 April 2021 |language=en|archive-date=2021-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603225730/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/otilliasteadman/qanon-sex-trafficking-conspiracy-extremism|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=WWE Referee, Wrestler-Turned-Mayor Fundraise For QAnon-Adjacent Charity|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/wwe-referee-wrestler-turned-mayor-fundraise-for-qanon-adjacent-charity/|access-date=June 5, 2021|website=Vice.com|date=September 29, 2020|archive-date=May 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520033802/https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dzx88/wwe-referee-wrestler-turned-mayor-fundraise-for-qanon-adjacent-charity|url-status=live}}
=Misleading self-promotion=
In a December 2020 article, Vice News said that Tim Ballard embellished Our Rescue's role in the rescue of a trafficked woman, stating that they did not find "outright falsehoods but a pattern of image-burnishing and mythology-building, a series of exaggerations that are, in the aggregate, quite misleading".{{cite news |last=Merlan |first=Anna |title=A Famed Anti-Sex Trafficking Group Has a Problem With the Truth |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-famed-anti-sex-trafficking-group-has-a-problem-with-the-truth/ |access-date=December 24, 2020 |work=Vice News |date=December 10, 2020 |archive-date=24 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224001855/https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7a3qw/a-famed-anti-sex-trafficking-group-has-a-problem-with-the-truth |url-status=live }} A 2021 follow-up article further criticized Our Rescue's practices, including using inexperienced donors and celebrities as part of its jump team, a lack of meaningful surveillance or identification of targets, failing to validate whether the people they intended to rescue were in fact actual trafficking victims, and conflating consensual sex work with sex trafficking.{{Cite web|title=Inside a Massive Anti-Trafficking Charity's Blundering Overseas Missions|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/inside-a-massive-anti-trafficking-charitys-blundering-overseas-missions/|access-date=June 5, 2021|work=Vice News|date=March 8, 2021 |archive-date=May 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513052432/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvxev5/inside-a-massive-anti-trafficking-charitys-blundering-overseas-missions|url-status=live}} Our Rescue's CEO Ballard reportedly consulted a psychic for intelligence on some missions.{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Conor |title='Sound Of Freedom' Inspiration Tim Ballard And Film Producer Face Allegations Of Sexual Impropriety |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/09/20/sound-of-freedom-inspiration-tim-ballard-and-film-producer-face-allegations-of-sexual-impropriety/?sh=1ef38c55d0f1 |website=Forbes |access-date=31 October 2023 |language=en}}
A 2021 article in Slate criticized an armed 2014 raid conducted by Our Rescue in the Dominican Republic, which was filmed live by a camera crew to use in a proposed reality TV show, saying that it was likely to have traumatized the trafficked children.{{Cite web |last=Conley |first=Meg |date=May 11, 2021 |title=Called by God |work=Slate |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2021/05/sex-trafficking-raid-operation-underground-railroad.html |access-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601042815/https://slate.com/human-interest/2021/05/sex-trafficking-raid-operation-underground-railroad.html |archive-date=June 1, 2021}} The children rescued in the raid were released a few weeks later, without having received the three months of rehabilitative care that was hoped to be provided.{{Cite web |last=Stackpole |first=Thomas |date=July 22, 2015 |title=The New Abolitionists |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/07/22/the-new-abolitionists-mexico-dominican-republic-human-trafficking-mormon-our/ |access-date=July 11, 2023 |website=Foreign Policy }} Anne Gallagher, an expert on the international law on human trafficking,{{cite news |last1=Jackman |first1=Tom |title=Hunting for sex-traffickers abroad — by posing as johns |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/hunting-for-sex-traffickers-abroad--by-posing-as-johns/2016/09/23/f449dd48-7057-11e6-8365-b19e428a975e_story.html |access-date=July 6, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 23, 2016}} wrote in 2015 that Our Rescue had an "alarming lack of understanding about how sophisticated criminal trafficking networks must be approached and dismantled" and called the work of Our Rescue "arrogant, unethical and illegal".
In June 2022, Vice reported that Our Rescue falsely announced on its Twitter and Facebook accounts as well as on Ballard's Instagram account that Our Rescue had "partnered" with American Airlines and that the airline would show a video about Our Rescue's work on all domestic flights that month. American Airlines said that they had never had a partnership or affiliation with Our Rescue or ever shown any of their videos, and that they were "taking appropriate action to have these posts removed".{{cite web |last=Merlan |first=Anna |date=June 10, 2022 |title=Operation Underground Railroad Touts Non-Existent Partnership With American Airlines |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/operation-underground-railroad-touts-non-existent-partnership-with-american-airlines/ |access-date=May 16, 2023 |work=Vice News}} Our Rescue released a statement that the apparent mix up was due to their advertising agency informing them of the deal with American Airlines, which was not finalized yet.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Damion |date=2022-06-11 |title=American Airlines issues swift rebuke of Operation Underground Railroad's bogus "partnership" claim with the airline |url=https://americancrimejournal.com/american-airlines-issues-swift-rebuke-of-operation-underground-railroads-bogus-partnership-claim-with-the-airline/ |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=American Crime Journal {{!}} |language=en-US}}
= Ballard's Sexual misconduct allegations =
{{See also|Tim Ballard#Sexual misconduct allegations and resignation}}In the summer of 2023, Ballard stepped away from the organization after an internal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations made against him by multiple employees.{{Cite web |last1=Merlan |first1=Anna |last2=Marchman |first2=Tim |date=July 13, 2023 |title=Tim Ballard Has 'Stepped Away' From Operation Underground Railroad, Org Says |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/tim-ballard-sound-of-freedom-operation-underground-railroad-stepped-away/ |access-date=September 3, 2023 |work=Vice }}{{Cite web |last1=Merlan |first1=Anna |last2=Marchman |first2=Tim |date=2023-07-18 |title=Tim Ballard Left Operation Underground Railroad After Investigation Into Claims Made by Employees |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/tim-ballard-left-operation-underground-railroad-after-investigation-into-claims-made-by-employees/ |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=Vice |language=en}} On June 22, 2023, Ballard resigned from the organization, although the reasons were not made public until September.{{cite web |last1=Siemaszko |first1=Corky |title='Sound of Freedom' inspiration Tim Ballard resigned from child rescue group after misconduct reports |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/tim-ballard-resigned-operation-underground-railroad-reports-sexual-mis-rcna105835 |website=NBC News|date=September 19, 2023 }}
Leadership change
After Ballard was forced out as CEO, Our Rescue began a search for new leadership.{{cite web |title=Tim Ballard, subject of 'Sound of Freedom' movie, has 'stepped away' from trafficking org, reports say |url=https://myfox8.com/news/entertainment/tim-ballard-subject-of-sound-of-freedom-movie-has-stepped-away-from-trafficking-org-reports-say/ |website=FOX8 WGHP |access-date=20 May 2024 |date=13 July 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Jennings |first1=Aubree |title=Operation Underground Railroad appoints new CEO, plans to expand |url=https://www.abc4.com/news/wasatch-front/operation-underground-railroad-appoints-new-ceo-plans-to-expand/ |website=ABC4 Utah |date=20 February 2024}} During the search, Matt Osborne, the President and COO, led the organization. On February 26, 2024, Tammy Lee, a corporate executive with experience at Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, and the University of Minnesota Foundation, took over as the new CEO.{{cite web |title=Operation Underground Railroad Appoints Tammy Lee as Chief Executive Officer |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240220342974/en/Operation-Underground-Railroad-Appoints-Tammy-Lee-as-Chief-Executive-Officer |website=www.businesswire.com |language=en |date=20 February 2024}} Lee also served on the White House Interagency Task Force to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
Financials
Our Rescue reported $6.9 million in revenues to the IRS in 2016, $22.3 million in 2019.{{Cite news |last=Adam Herbets, Nate Carlisle |date=2020-10-08 |title=Anti-human trafficking group Operation Underground Railroad under criminal investigation by Utah prosecutor |language=en |work=Fox 13 Salt Lake City |url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/fox-13-investigates/anti-human-trafficking-group-operation-underground-railroad-under-investigation-by-utah-prosecutor |access-date=2023-09-08}}
According to Ministry Watch and ProPublica, the organization took in more than $45 million in 2020 and spent about $13.5 million on its work of allegedly rescuing sex trafficking victims{{snd}} an unspent difference of $33.9 million;{{cite news|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/why-operation-underground-railroad-was-once-under-investigation/ar-AA1e9gCm|title=Why Operation Underground Railroad Was Once Under Investigation}}{{dead link |date=April 2025}} in 2021, it was $42 million, while spending $31 million; and in 2022, Our Rescue took in more than $27 million in donations, down from a peak of almost $46 million in 2020, and spent close to $32 million on program services.{{Cite web|url=https://db.ministrywatch.com/ministry.php?ein=463614979|title=Operation Underground Railroad - MinistryWatch|website=Ministry Watch}} As of December 2022, Operation Underground Railroad had more than $60 million in assets.
In 2021, CEO Tim Ballard was paid $355,000 in salary and compensation. In 2022, he was paid $546,548.{{Cite news |first=Corky |last=Siemaszko |date=2023-09-19 |title='Sound of Freedom' inspiration Tim Ballard resigned from child rescue group after misconduct reports |language=en |work=NBC |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/tim-ballard-resigned-operation-underground-railroad-reports-sexual-mis-rcna105835 |access-date=2023-09-24}}
Operations
As of 2021, Our Rescue had offices in Cedar City, Utah, and Anaheim, California.
= International operations =
In 2014, Our Rescue participated in a sting operation in Cartagena, Colombia.{{Cite web| title = Rescuing Children From Colombia's Sex Trafficking Trade| work = ABC News| access-date = 2016-05-16| date = 2014-10-22| url = https://abcnews.go.com/International/inside-dangerous-mission-rescue-children-colombias-sex-trafficking/story?id=26185510}}{{Cite web|last=Burleigh |first=Nina |title=Inside The Fight Against Child Sex Trafficking |url=https://www.maxim.com/maxim-man/inside-fight-against-child-sex-trafficking |access-date=April 23, 2023 |date=December 14, 2015 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512111911/https://www.maxim.com/maxim-man/inside-fight-against-child-sex-trafficking |url-status=live}} In April 2022, Our Rescue members attended an anti-trafficking summit in Cartagena, Colombia.{{cite news |title=With US agents, they seek to dismantle sexual exploitation networks |url=https://www.elheraldo.co/bolivar/con-agentes-encubiertos-de-eeuu-buscan-desarticular-redes-de-explotacion-sexual-en-cartagena |work=EL HERALDO |date=April 6, 2022 |language=es-LA |access-date=June 9, 2022 |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406221209/https://www.elheraldo.co/bolivar/con-agentes-encubiertos-de-eeuu-buscan-desarticular-redes-de-explotacion-sexual-en-cartagena |url-status=live }}
In 2022, Our Rescue also provided investigative and undercover support in the arrests of pro-pedophilia activists Nelson Maatman, who fled to Mexico, and Marthijn Uittenbogaard and his partner, who both fled to Ecuador.{{cite news |title=Gevluchte Nederlandse pedofielen opgepakt in Ecuador |url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/302805065/gevluchte-nederlandse-pedofielen-opgepakt-in-ecuador |work=Telegraaf.nl |date=24 Jun 2022 |access-date=6 March 2023 |archive-date=24 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624093725/https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/302805065/gevluchte-nederlandse-pedofielen-opgepakt-in-ecuador |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{cite news |title=Electronic-sniffing dog helps in pedophilia arrest in Mexico |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-mexico-city-netherlands-d44b51f657e9707980dd157f06a2aa6b |work=AP NEWS |date=15 June 2022 |access-date=19 November 2022 |archive-date=25 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625223603/https://apnews.com/article/politics-mexico-city-netherlands-d44b51f657e9707980dd157f06a2aa6b |url-status=live }}
= Law enforcement support =
Between 2015 and 2018, Our Rescue donated more than $170,000 to Washington State Patrol's "Net Nanny" sting program. The money was used for "additional detectives, hotels, food and overtime". Sergeant Carlos Rodriguez, the initiator of the sting program arranged positive media coverage for Our Rescue, solicited donations for them,{{cite news |last=Sokol |first=Chad |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/jul/11/thrirteen-arrested-in-sting-targeting-child-rapist/ |title=Thirteen arrested in sting targeting child rapists in Spokane County |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=July 11, 2016 |access-date=April 23, 2023}} and, upon his retirement in 2019, was employed by Our Rescue as their domestic coordinator.
=Aftercare=
Our Rescue says it runs a non-profit aftercare program,{{cite news |title=Abuse Relief Corps merges with O. U. R. to become Operation Underground Railroad Ghana |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Abuse-Relief-Corps-merges-with-O-U-R-to-become-Operation-Underground-Railroad-Ghana-1723586 |access-date=12 March 2023 |work=www.ghanaweb.com |date=2 March 2023 |language=en}} providing medical and psychological services, education, and vocational opportunities to survivors.{{cite web |last=Toone |first=Trent |title=Operation Underground Railroad aftercare director gives training on how to spot a trafficker |url=https://www.deseret.com/2019/6/14/20675663/operation-underground-railroad-aftercare-director-gives-training-on-how-to-spot-a-trafficker#a-scene-from-a-training-that-jessica-mass-ours-director-of-aftercare-recently-gave-in-new-mexico |website=Deseret News |language=en |date=14 June 2019 |access-date=26 January 2022 |archive-date=26 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126194457/https://www.deseret.com/2019/6/14/20675663/operation-underground-railroad-aftercare-director-gives-training-on-how-to-spot-a-trafficker#a-scene-from-a-training-that-jessica-mass-ours-director-of-aftercare-recently-gave-in-new-mexico |url-status=live }} In January 2022, Our Rescue stated that in 2021 it provided aftercare in 30 countries.{{cite web |title=The Journal of Nonprofit Innovation |date=January 1, 2022 |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=21 |url=https://vahara-o2-public.s3.amazonaws.com/media/88666/January-2022.Human-Trafficking-Awareness.Journal-of-Nonprofit-Innovation.pdf |access-date=June 9, 2022 |archive-date=January 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122190551/https://vahara-o2-public.s3.amazonaws.com/media/88666/January-2022.Human-Trafficking-Awareness.Journal-of-Nonprofit-Innovation.pdf |url-status=live }} In February 2020, Our Rescue paid for an adopted Wisconsin woman to visit her biological parents after she discovered that she had been stolen from them as a baby and trafficked through orphanage fraud. After using the DNA test to trace her heritage back to India and Israel, the woman found her ethnic minority Roma family that lived in Romania and had since moved to Italy.{{cite news |last=Ritschel |first=Chelsea |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/human-trafficking-reunion-belle-barbu-adoption-romania-wisconsin-a9363566.html |title=American woman reunited with family 25 years after she was trafficked as an infant |work=The Independent |date=February 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228165021/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/human-trafficking-reunion-belle-barbu-adoption-romania-wisconsin-a9363566.html |archive-date=February 28, 2020 |access-date=March 18, 2023}}
According to Foreign Policy, in 2014, "after OUR's first operation in the Dominican Republic, a local organization called the National Council for Children and Adolescents (CONANI when abbreviated in Spanish) quickly discovered it didn't have the capacity to handle the 26 girls rescued. They were released in less than a week."
= ESD K-9 =
In 2022, Our Rescue bought over 50 dogs trained to detect electronic storage devices (ESD) from Jordan Detection K9 and donated them to police departments in several U.S. states and Thailand.{{cite news |title=Electronic Detection Deployed Dogs |url=https://www.electronicdetectionk9.com/dogs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206144301/https://www.electronicdetectionk9.com/dogs/ |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |access-date=March 10, 2023 |publisher=Jordan Detection K9}}{{cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Kiah |date=January 19, 2022 |title=Woods Cross Police now have a K-9 trained to sniff out child sexual assault material |url=https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/woods-cross-police-now-have-a-k-9-trained-to-sniff-out-porn/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121151048/https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/woods-cross-police-now-have-a-k-9-trained-to-sniff-out-porn/ |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |access-date=March 10, 2023 |work=Channel 4}}
In popular media
- In 2016, The Abolitionists, a documentary produced by Gerald Molen, featured the first operations undertaken by Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad.{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2015-06-01 |title='Abolitionists' Documentary Series About Rescuing Kids From Sex Slavery Shopped |url=https://deadline.com/2015/06/abolitionists-tv-series-child-sex-slavery-rescue-documentary-1201435534/ |access-date=2019-06-21 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en}}
- Another documentary from director Nick Nanton, Operation Toussaint,{{cite news |last1=Blair |first1=Rebecca |title=Documentary Showcase on Scientology Network Draws Back Curtain on World of Child Sex Trafficking |url=https://www.worldreligionnews.com/entertainment/documentary-showcase-scientology-network-draws-back-curtain-world-child-sex-trafficking/ |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=World Religion News |date=6 December 2019}} was produced in 2018, which featured an operation in Haiti that had the support of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse and former U.S. congresswoman Mia Love of Utah.{{cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Jamie |date=2017-06-02 |title=LDS Congresswoman, Operation Underground Railroad Founder Meet with President of Haiti to Address Human Trafficking |url=http://www.ldsliving.com/LDS-Congresswoman-Operation-Underground-Railroad-Founder-Meet-with-President-of-Haiti-to-Address-Human-Trafficking/s/85522 |access-date=2019-06-21 |website=LDS Living}} Deseret News movie critic Josh Terry described Operation Toussaint as "an engrossing and expert production" but also said it "feels more like a promotional film than a strictly traditional documentary".{{cite news |last=Terry |first=Josh |date=July 27, 2018 |title=Movie review: Gripping 'Operation Toussaint' shows Tim Ballard's real-life battle against sex trafficking |work=Deseret News |url=https://www.deseret.com/2018/7/26/20649827/movie-review-gripping-operation-toussaint-shows-tim-ballard-s-real-life-battle-against-sex-trafficki |access-date=April 23, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Terry |first=Josh |date=July 26, 2018 |title=Movie review: Gripping 'Operation Toussaint' shows Tim Ballard's real-life battle against sex trafficking |work=Deseret News |url=https://www.deseret.com/2018/7/26/20649827/movie-review-gripping-operation-toussaint-shows-tim-ballard-s-real-life-battle-against-sex-trafficki}}
- The documentary Triple Take (2020) was filmed about sting operations in Colombia.{{cite news |last=Briccetti |first=Peter |date=July 30, 2020 |title=Operation Triple Take Fails to Address Systemic Issues with Child Sex-Trafficking |work=Whistleblower Network News |url=https://whistleblowersblog.org/whistleblower-film-reviews/operation-triple-take-fails-to-address-systemic-issues-with-child-sex-trafficking/}}
- A feature film, Sound of Freedom, starring Jim Caviezel as Tim Ballard, was announced in 2018,{{cite web |last=Bond |first=Paul |date=September 6, 2016 |title=Child Sex Trafficking Explored in New Doc 'Abolitionists' (Exclusive Video) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/child-sex-trafficking-explored-abolitionists-documentary-video-926074 |access-date=June 21, 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{cite web |last=Bond |first=Paul |date=15 June 2018 |title=Blockchain Platform TaTaTu to Co-Finance 'Sound of Freedom' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/blockchain-platform-tatatu-finance-sound-freedom-1120626 |access-date=June 21, 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}} and released in theaters in 2023.{{cite news |last=Bramesco |first=Charles |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jul/06/sound-of-freedom-movie-qanon-jim-caviezel |title=Sound of Freedom: the QAnon-adjacent thriller seducing America |work=The Guardian |date=July 6, 2023 |access-date=July 8, 2023}}
Publicity and celebrity endorsements
In 2015, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes joined Ballard in a sting operation in Colombia.{{Cite news |last=Ben Winslow |date=2015-01-15 |title=VIDEO: Utah Attorney General goes undercover in child sex trafficking sting |language=en |work=Fox 13 Salt Lake City |url=https://www.fox13now.com/2015/01/14/exclusive-the-utah-ags-secret-trip-to-participate-in-a-child-sex-trafficking-sting |access-date=2023-09-08}}
Corbin Kaufusi, Tyler "Ninja" Blevins, and Tony Robbins have helped raise funds for Our Rescue{{Cite web |last=Ireland |first=Kyle |date=February 4, 2021 |title=Niners Lineman Corbin Kaufusi Plays Fortnite With Ninja For Operation Underground Railroad |url=https://kslsports.com/452646/niners-lineman-corbin-kaufusi-plays-fortnite-with-ninja-for-operation-underground-railroad/ |access-date=April 23, 2023 |website=KSLsports.com}}{{Cite web |last=Genovese |first=Daniella |date=March 6, 2020 |title=Tony Robbins raises $18M for charity with 60th birthday bash |url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/tony-robbins-donations-birthday-charity |access-date=April 23, 2023 |website=Fox Business}} In July 2021, Our Rescue partnered with a Ft. Myers, Florida, Harley-Davidson dealership in organizing a "freedom ride to raise awareness about child sex trafficking".{{Cite web |last=Guerrero |first=Andrea |date=July 24, 2021 |title=Operation Underground Railroad ride set to begin Saturday for human trafficking awareness |url=https://winknews.com/2021/07/24/operation-underground-railroad-ride-set-to-begin-saturday-for-human-trafficking-awareness/ |access-date=April 23, 2023 |website=WINK-TV}} In 2018, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin went to Haiti "for a first-hand experience" with Our Rescue, which was filmed for ESPN.{{Cite web |last=Kozora |first=Alex |date=September 21, 2019 |title=Mike Tomlin Talks Traveling To Haiti To Fight Human Trafficking |url=https://steelersdepot.com/2018/09/mike-tomlin-talks-traveling-to-haiti-to-fight-human-trafficking/ |access-date=April 23, 2023 |website=Steelers Depot}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{cite web |last1=Dehlin |first1=John |author1-link=John Dehlin |title=1364: Investigating Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad – Lynn Packer Pt. 6 |url=https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/tim-ballard-and-operation-underground-railroad-lynn-packer-pt-6/ |website=Mormon Stories |access-date=6 July 2023 |date=8 December 2020}}
- {{cite news |last1=Baltich |first1=Donovan C |title=BYU grad to build 'Int'l Lab' to save child sex slaves |url=https://universe.byu.edu/2014/12/06/byu-grad-to-build-intl-lab-to-save-child-sex-slaves/ |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=The Universe |publisher=Brigham Young University |date=December 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409122742/https://universe.byu.edu/2014/12/06/byu-grad-to-build-intl-lab-to-save-child-sex-slaves/ |archive-date=9 April 2015}}
- {{cite web |title=Sound of Freedom vs. the True Story of Tim Ballard |url=https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/sound-of-freedom/ |website=History vs Hollywood .com |quote=cites: The Victory Channel & The Daily Signal}}
- "Sound of Freedom: Based on a True Story (except for the Parts That Aren't)". Operation Underground Railroad, 27 June 2023, [https://ourrescue.org/blog/sound-of-freedom-based-on-true-story ourrescue.org/blog/sound-of-freedom-based-on-true-story]. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- {{cite web |author1=LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Living |title=Tim Ballard: The Scripture That Saved My Life From Human Traffickers |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJof2_59vbc |website=youtube |access-date=6 July 2023 |language=en}}
- {{cite web |author1=United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs |title=A Pathway to Freedom: Rescue and Refuge for Sex Trafficking Victims |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-114hhrg94608/html/CHRG-114hhrg94608.htm |website=govinfo.gov |access-date=6 July 2023 |date=May 14, 2015 |quote=WITNESSES: Tim Ballard ...}}
- {{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Elise |title=The Fight Against Trafficking Is Derailed By Your Exploitative Conspiracy Theories |url=https://dailyutahchronicle.com/2020/08/18/scott-the-fight-against-trafficking-is-derailed-by-your-exploitative-conspiracy-theories/ |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=Daily Utah Chronicle |date=18 August 2020}}
- {{cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Gustavo |title=Mormon-Led U.S. 'Anti-Trafficking' Group Linked to LALExpo (Latin America Adult Business Expo) Cancellation |url=https://www.xbiz.com/news/266954/mormon-led-u-s-anti-trafficking-group-linked-to-lalexpo-cancellation |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=XBIZ |location=Barranquilla, Colombia |date=9 June 2022 |language=en}}
- {{cite news |title=Anti-human trafficking group Operation Underground Railroad under criminal investigation by Utah prosecutor |url=https://www.fox13now.com/news/fox-13-investigates/anti-human-trafficking-group-operation-underground-railroad-under-investigation-by-utah-prosecutor |access-date=6 July 2023 |work=FOX 13 News Utah (KSTU) |date=8 October 2020 |language=en}}