Why Is Human Trafficking Increasing in America?

City of Murrieta Mayor reads human trafficking proclamation

These past few weeks we have been attending meetings and forums on human trafficking in our local area of Riverside County. The statistics show that the illegal trafficking and slavery of persons in our country are increasing, but why? Who is involved? Who is responsible? What can we do about it?

Think about this... why do human slaves have the potential to generate more revenue than guns or drugs?  Because slaves can be sold, used and resold multiple times over again. This is what the gangs, cartels and mafia are beginning to realize. Why sell guns or drugs when it's just a one time deal? Why not utilize a "product" that can be resold multiple times over? Unfortunately this is one main reason why slavery in the United States is increasing.

Victims being trafficked are not only the ones being brought across our borders, they are local citizens like you and me. Our youth are particularly vulnerable. Recruiters often utilize social internet site such as facebook and myspace. They often befriend them, keep in touch with them, and "groom" them as the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task-force calls it. What happens when one of these young teenagers is struggling with something at home or at school? Many times they put confidence in peers, it is after all a hard time of life. We often turn to those who we feel cares the most, who will hear us, who will "groom" us. When a young, upset or depressed, weak and vulnerable teenager falls into this trap, all hell can break loose. The "groomer" can offer help, a shoulder to cry on, or influence them to make decisions. "Lets meet, I'd like to talk" one may say. Or maybe it's "Come with me, I know somebody who can help". Once that young person falls into the trap, it's all over.

I am reminded of a young teenage girl here in Riverside County. She was convinced to take the short trip across the border to Mexico to make some quick cash in a popular red light district. Needless to say, she never returned. Chances are she is now a victim of sexual exploitation... forced to have sex with multiple men every day, a slave to her master. Why do I feel this way? Because there were some surveillance pictures of her in a popular area ran by sex traffickers.

What can we do to battle this awful injustice? The first step is awareness! We need to educate both ourselves as well as our fellow citizens, schools, law enforcement, and every body we can possibly reach. It's not embedded in our minds to see something fishy and think, "Hmmmm... I wonder if this could be a case of human trafficking?". Know what you children are doing, who they are hanging out with, who their friends are on facebook, myspace and other social networking websites. Educate them, so that they know what to look for as well.

What to look for:
Often times, traffickers use drop houses in average neighborhoods to house victims. Here are some indicators of a drop house:
• Does not look like a typical family home
• May be a rental or vacant home
• Often located near main freeways
• Squatters may be occupying it
• May have out of town landlords
• Vans/SUVs come and go late at night or early morning
• Has attached garage (Traffickers don’t want people to see them transporting persons.)
• Windows closed off, barred, or boarded
• Heavily fenced
• Man/men standing guard out front
• Guard dogs

Obviously, not every house with these indicators is a drop house. But you can report suspicious activity:
Text: 951.213.9159
Email: clue@millionkids.org
Or you may report instances of human trafficking to the National Trafficking Hotline at 1.888.3737.888.

Remember, we are not law enforcement. Never attempt to do do anything about a trafficking situation yourself. What we can do is be the eyes and ears for law enforcement, and we can also be a voice to those who are victimized by this social injustice.

To learn more about this issue or to be a voice by wearing a human trafficking shirt, please visit our website.