Human Trafficking in the United States

Human trafficking is a form of modern- slavery involving the illegal transport of individuals by force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of labor, sexual exploitation, or activities in which others benefit financially. Human trafficking is a global problem affecting people of all ages. It is estimated that approximately 1,000,000 people are trafficked each year globally and that between 20,000 and 50,000 are trafficked into the United States, which is one of the largest destinations for victims of the sex-trafficking trade.

The United Nations (UN) divides human trafficking into three categories—sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and the removal of organs—and defines human trafficking as the induction by force, fraud, or coercion of a person to engage in the sex trade, or the harboring, transportation, or obtaining of a person for labor service or organ removal. Though the United States does not acknowledge the removal of organs in its definition, it does recognize sex and labor trafficking and describes human trafficking as the purposeful transportation of an individual for exploitation.

Human trafficking recruiters seek out migrants through various methods such as the Internet, employment agencies, the media, and local contacts. Recruiters are most often from within the origin country and commonly share the cultural background of those migrating.  Victims often leave their home country voluntarily; most are unaware that they are being recruited for a trafficking scheme. Some may be kidnapped or coerced, while others are bribed by false job opportunities, passports, or visas.

Transporters are compensated after they have taken migrants to the traffickers in the destination country. Immigration documents, whether legitimate or fraudulent, are confiscated by the traffickers. Victims are subjected to physical and sexual abuse, and many are forced into labor or the sex trade in order to pay off the cost for their migration into the country.

Steverson, L. A., & Wooditch, A. C. (2019, December 5). Human trafficking. Retrieved March 29, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/human-trafficking