Trafficking in the United States

As we go about our everyday lives it would seem almost inconceivable, that a country which is symbolic for its many freedoms could play such a huge role in the human trafficking epidemic. What you will find is that not only is the United States a hub for human trafficking but this takes place in our own state; California and can be found a few hours away in San Francisco. Does that mean that Sacramento is exempt from this crime, absolutely not! In fact Sacramento, Roseville, and many other cities in our state have been affected by this lucrative trend. Masked behind legitimate businesses such as restaurants, hotels and nail salons, you may find that there is an underground world catering to the consumers that human trafficking produces. In many cases it is also true that massage parlors, strip clubs, go-go bars, saunas, and adult entertainment theatres are fronts for the sex trade. Many other venues that could hide this business are warehouses, escort services and private residences that are directly associated with brothels.

This is the United States, how can thousands of people be brought into our country without their being some questions as to who they are and why they are here? Research shows that there are about 50,000 people brought into the United States each year. They come from countries such as Latin America, the former Soviet Union, and South East Asia. The truth of the matter is they are brought in right under the government’s nose. Visas are a popular tool in getting victims through our borders. Some visas are legal while other visas are fraudulent. The movement of victims through the border can take on many forms. Some forms are through vehicles, overseas, via train, and oddly enough some victims are actively paying their own way to be smuggled across the borders. As the United Nations and Department of Immigration seek out ways to minimize the number of people coming in, we will find that many American’s are being taken out of our country the same way that they are coming in.

Although the trafficking statistics show that men, woman and children are victims, we find that women are most often lured into the United States under false pretenses. They are promised jobs as waitresses, nannies, models, factory workers, or situations with severely reduced freedoms. Women are prevented from leaving by security guards, violence, threats, debt bondage, and at times retention of traveling documents. These documents can be either passports, visas, or any identification.  The traffickers maintain control through isolation; in many cases, the women must live and work at the location. The women may also be denied outside medical assistance when needed.  Questioning why this is happening is happening would not even make sense to do since the going rate for young woman being sold to brothels is $16,000 per person. If the woman stays at the brothel she will likely be sold to many other men accruing as much as $40,000 in one day just for providing sexual favors.  At this point the business is so lucrative and with potentially low risks involved, someone in this business could make up to $19 billion dollars annually.

In other cases of trafficking we could look at indentured servitude also known as domestic slaves. In one case out of Seattle a woman took a job as a nanny to support her family. Upon arriving she soon realized not only would she be taking care of all the duties of the house, plus caretaking of the children but that she would also only be paid $70.00 a month to survive. Her work weeks consisted of 100 plus hours. She was forbidden to see any doctors for medical care, being bound to the house each day out of fear that her family would be hurt if she didn’t do what she was told. She continued on with the families’ secret until she was able to escape. Most often in cases such as these, law enforcement has difficulties due to language and cultural barriers. Victims of this type of trafficking may come from places which culturally distrust law enforcement officials. The question now which permeates through the air is what can be done to save those who are being victimized?

Human Trafficking.Org. (2007, May). Retrieved December 1, 2011, from Academy for Educational Development website: http://www.humantrafficking.org/countries/united_states_of_america

Lerner, S. (2007, May). Human Trafficking In The U.S.: One Woman's Story. Retrieved December 12, 2011, from NPR website: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128873444

Hughes, D. M. (2001, March 1). SEX TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES: INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC TRENDS . Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, 141. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/187774.pdf