Human Trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. It is defined as transporting, soliciting, recruiting, harboring, providing, enticing, maintaining, or obtaining another person to exploit that person for either commercial sex activity or labor or services.
Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age. (22 USC § 7102)
Labor trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. (22 USC § 7102)
Where can victims be found
Massage Parlors
Factories
Construction
Farming or Landscaping
Fisheries
Hotels or Tourism
Panhandling
Janitorial Services
Restaurant Services
Adult Establishments
Domestic Help (nanny, servant, etc.)
Who is at risk? Anyone - no matter their age, nationality, race, religion, socio-economic status, education level, sexuality, or gender can become a victim of human trafficking.
However, traffickers often target children and teens who are/have:
History of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
Been in foster care or the juvenile justice system
Substance abuse or mental health issues
Undocumented status
Low socio-economic status
Lack employment opportunities
Unstable home life
Runaway or homeless
Limited education
Suffering from physical and/or mental disabilities
What to watch for
Appears scared or nervous, may not make eye contact
No knowledge about where they are and why
Typically has someone with them at all times, this person may seem controlling
Carries multiple hotel keys
Signs of branding (tattoos, jewelry)
Physical injuries or signs of abuse
Has no personal items (cell phone, ID, passport)
Not allowed to leave work or residence freely
Lies about age/false identification and/or inconsistencies
No private space available for victim
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