Press Releases

(Washington, D.C. February 21, 2025) Polaris, a leader in the global fight to eradicate human trafficking and help survivors restore their freedom, appointed Megan Lundstrom, a longtime survivor leader in the anti-trafficking movement, as the new CEO. Ms. Lundstrom joined Polaris in 2023 as the director of the Resilience Fund and before this she was … Continued

After six years in executive leadership, Catherine Chen has announced her intention to step down as CEO. The Polaris Board of Directors has appointed Jen Jinks and Taskeen Hamidullah-Bahl as interim co-CEOs to lead the organization while it undertakes a search for the next leader of Polaris.   Catherine joined Polaris as a Chief Program Officer … Continued

Polaris stands against H.R. 2601, a bill that is dangerous to the safety and security of victims and survivors of human trafficking. We urge members of Congress to listen to survivors and vote NO.

Polaris released a statement to address concerns and the misunderstanding that the Trafficking Hotline is primarily a law enforcement tip line.

Polaris, Consejo Ciudadano, and The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking gathered virtually to enhance regional cooperation to assist victims and survivors of human trafficking.

“Human trafficking is a complex and dynamic crime,” said Catherine Chen, CEO of Polaris. “Without an investigation of exactly what happened before migrants were put on a plane and unwittingly used for political gain, it would be irresponsible to accuse anyone of trafficking. 

Polaris, the leading organization working to prevent and reduce sex and labor trafficking in North America, issued the following statement in response to accusations of human trafficking by Wyoming congressional candidate Harriet Hageman.

In light of today's sentencing decision in the case of Ghislaine Maxwell, Robert Beiser, Polaris's Director of the Strategic Initiative on Sex Trafficking, released the following statement

Catherine Chen, CEO of Polaris, was appointed by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas to the Homeland Security Advisory Council. Chen joins 32 other new members on the Council, the principal external advisory body to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The USDA notice cancelling the Farm Labor Survey will lower the salaries of H-2A workers and also leaves them at more risk of human trafficking.

Polaris is excited to announce the appointment of veteran anti trafficking strategist Catherine Chen as the organization’s new chief executive officer.

In the past week, the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline has received numerous reports involving text messages claiming the recipient has an unclaimed package awaiting delivery.