The very word “human trafficking” brings chills of distaste to the average American. However, many adults do not understand the actual scale of the practice and what it entails. Around the world, children are forced to be murdering soldiers, children of both genders are compelled to become prostitutes, and migrants workers labor for little or no wages in a desperate attempt to feed themselves (Office of the United States Press Secretary, 2014). President Barack Obama issued a proclamation stating the United States fully recognizes the problem and in keeping with historic values, dedicated the power of the country to fight against the practice of slavery and human trafficking. The purpose of this paper is to address the questions of how the practice takes place, what steps are being taken to stop it, and what can individuals do to combat human trafficking.
The Practice of Human Trafficking
Human trafficking recruits, transports, harbors, transfers, and/or receives a person through the use of force, coercion, or some other method for the purpose of exploiting them (Art Therapy, 2014). According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the practice of human trafficking creates billions of dollars annually for criminal organizations; this places it as one of the most rapidly growing criminal activity in the world (FBI, 2015). The victims of human trafficking are often beaten and starved. They work as prostitutes or in jobs such as domestic servants, restaurant laborers, or factory workers for little or no pay. The personal and psychological cost is horrific, but human trafficking also moves illegal immigrants across American borders and provides funding for organized crime and terrorist organizations.
It is difficult to estimate the number of people involved in human trafficking due to such a large number being undocumented immigrants. Also, since the practice is criminal, efforts are made to keep all participants out of public scrutiny. The import of victims tends to be most prominent in areas with large immigrant populations; Texas, Georgia, and California are the primary entrance points due to large airports in their major cities (FBI, 2015).
There are other misconceptions held about human trafficking. For instance, some of the victims are from within the country. The statistics from the State Department estimate almost 39,000 children sexually exploited every year were originally runaways (U.S. Department of State, 2014). Citizens in the United States are trafficked due to the definition which states force is used for exploitation of the individual; approximately 33 percent of humans trafficked are Americans (FBI, 2015). Most victims are tricked into the activities they are forced to do and may not even think of escaping because of threats against them; they may even think what is happening to them is legal. Sometimes a victim is paid, but not very much. A person who is trafficked may have freedom to move about, but they are always coerced into returning through threats; sometimes the threats are against families in other countries.
There is numerous small and large crime organizations associated with human trafficking. One such organization is located in Asia and is named the “Triads” (Weiss, 2014). The Triads have been extremely successful operating inside the United States with locations in Houston, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, New York, Boston, and Miami (Abadinsky, 2010). The lure of human trafficking lies in the low overhead and it is safer that dealing in drugs. Travel in accomplished in ancient cargo carriers with occupants three times the number recommended on the vessels. The Triads charge as much as $35,000 per person with only a $100 deposit (Logan, Walker & Hunt, 2009). After the immigrant arrives, they must pay the debt or become slaves to the Triad. If the victim attempts to escape, threats of death or violence are made against them or their families. The decentralization of the Triads makes it difficult to determine there are any international connections if an arrest is made.
Russian criminal syndicates deal mainly in prostitution because there is such a high profit margin. Women in Romania and the Ukraine have poor job opportunities even if they are educated and fall victim to the attraction of coming to the United States (Zalisko, 2000). Recruitment is made through newspaper and magazines promising high incomes, free housing, and assurances of meeting rich men in major cities interested in marriage; the jobs advertized include nannies, waitresses, and night club dancers (Walker-Rodriguez & Hill, 2011). The women are given transportation and identification papers, but these are taken when they arrive in America. If they fight or attempt to escape their slavery into prostitution, their traffickers subdue them with violence, isolation, and narcotic addictions. The Russian criminals photograph the women with clients and threaten to send the pictures to the families of their victims to convince them to cooperate (Abadinksy, 2010).
Actions against Human Trafficking
The major nations of the world have banded together to fight against human trafficking (FBI, 2015). The United States compiles the data collected globally by the Department of State in compliance with the Trafficking Victim Protection Act of 2000 (U.S. Department of State, 2014). It also sends updates on legal actions against the parties responsible. According to a report in 2001, it is believed at least 14,000 people were trafficked into the United States, although the Justice Department believes that number may be close to 17,500 per year; the numbers are only estimates due to a lack of coordination between countries and agencies and little or no documentation. Many times, the numbers are based on the amount of calls for help to the hotlines established in major American cities.
A possible explanation for the increased numbers of humans trafficked is the financial crisis occurring worldwide which lowers the need for laborers; people are more willing to take the risks associated with working with illegal organization in order to obtain employment. To address the issue, the FBI works with over 70 agencies dedicated to fighting human trafficking (FBI, 2015). Training in the recognition of victims of trafficking is offered to non-governmental organization and non-profit agencies to assist in the efforts.
Ways the General Population Can Help Stop Human Trafficking
People can be alert to the following signs suggesting possible human trafficking:
Individuals without apparent money, identification, family, or friends.
Employers who use psychological ways to control their workers.
Inhabited apartments or houses with poor living conditions.
Individuals who always seem to be watched or who move frequently.
Living conditions that include fences and locks.
Employees who work long or irregular hours, appear to be paid very little, do not take days off, and work with injuries or illnesses.
In conjunction with other signs, the individual speaks little or no English.
Even if the suspected victim is an American, he or she may be a minor who seems to be without parents, homeless, a suspected drug user, or mentally ill.
Victims of human trafficking can be found in any working position that can be performed with little or no skills. The Superbowl will be held in Houston in 2017 and efforts are already in place to address the amount of human trafficking expected for the event; the annual Superbowl is commonly known as one of the highest trafficking events in the country due to the high numbers of unskilled laborers needed to support it (Houstonrr, 2015). Specialized training has started for local law enforcement, citizens, hospitality workers, and transportation security employees. In addition, programs are in place to educated teenagers on human trafficking to avoid falling victim to the $150 billion sex industry; the average age of children coerced into sexual exploitation is 12 to 14 years of age (Houstonrr, 2015).
Prosecution of Human Traffickers
Through the efforts of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, funding for 42 Human Trafficking Task Forces to work with numerous other governmental and civilian agencies has made progress in the fight against human trafficking (Justice, 2015). Individuals have been prosecuted in connection with workers in agriculture, mansions, strip clubs, sweatshops, escort services, and brothels. Due to increased public awareness programs, the numbers of reported incidences resulting in investigation and prosecution have risen significantly. In the six year period between 2001 to 2007, convictions have increased by 360 percent over the previous seven years (Justice, 2015).
Between 2009 to 2011, an average of 24 cases of forced labor annually have been taken to court, more than double the previous three years (Justice, 2015). Cases range from single victims working as domestics servants to transnational organized criminal networks. The partnerships with other investigative agencies have resulted in a payment of $80,000 to two victims from the Philippines who were in domestic servitude in Kansas City, Missouri, and ten defendants in El Paso, Texas have been charged with forced labor and sex trafficking (Justice, 2015). The victims of human trafficking are eligible for certain forms of immigration relief and possible financial compensation.
While 24 cases of prosecution of human trafficking per year seems small in relation to the thousands of victims estimated coming into the country or exploited from within the United States, these are messages sent to the criminals involved that human trafficking will not be condoned in America (Justice, 2015). Targeting financial crimes that occur with human trafficking tells organized crime that the practice is now more risky and less profitable than previously.
As victims become more aware of the help available and citizens become alert to the possibility that they may be living near or working with people being exploited, more cases will be brought to light. In addition, the prosecution of employers taking advantage of cheap labor through human trafficking will give added incentive to avoid cooperation with criminal organizations and individuals exploiting susceptible people.
Assistance to Victims after Release
There is always a question of how to assist the victims of human trafficking after they have obtained release from their servitude. Social service providers have assistance available through community and state-funded agencies for food, shelter, clothing, legal assistance, medical care, and training in acceptable job placement opportunities and the victims relocate (Acf.hhs, 2012). If the victim is from outside the United States, he or she can obtain a letter of eligibility from the Health and Human Services office of Refugee Resettlement. Federal benefits and services are offered to victims of trafficking including adults that are certified, children with eligibility letters, registered legal residents, American citizens, and others.
In the News
Americans contribute to human trafficking without even knowing it. A recent article in the Orlean Times Herald discussed the Thai seafood industry whose catch comes to supply chains of Walmart, Sysco, and Kroger grocery stores and provides fish for Fancy Feast, Meow Mix, and Iams pet food; it also uses human trafficking for labor (Mendoza, 2015). A congressional senate panel was informed of the situation by a non-profit organization that advocates for human rights. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims are at grave risk of falling prey to human traffickers after becoming displaced following attacks in Myanmar (Mendoza, 2015). In March 2015, the Associated Press reported that the Thai fishing industry uses slave labor for the hundreds of fishermen it needs to conduct business. The men are kept in cages on Benhina, an Indonesian island, whipped, and forced to work for years at a time. Authorities rescued 370 of these fishermen, but hundreds more remain trapped (Mendoza, 2015).
The Thai fishing industry states the United States is the key customer in its $7 billion export industry and as protests arise from purchasers, they state they are taking steps toward addressing the problem (Mendoza, 2015). In the meantime, the United States has a law banning the import of products made with slave labor; the country has enforced it only 39 times in 85 years due to a loophole stating importation can continue if consumer demand relies on it (Mendoza, 2015). However, the Senate and House committees passed amendments in April 2015 to close the loophole in order to boycott Thai fish imports (Mendoza, 2015).
Hlaing Min was one of the men rescued from Benjina in April 2015 and discussed the
meetings in Washington concerning the pending boycott.
"I want to say to the congressmen that if I were to mention about all the human skulls and
bones from the fishermen who died, the sea would be full of Burmese bones," he said.
"On behalf of all the fishermen here, I request to the congressmen that the U.S. stop
buying all fish from Thailand. If the label says Thailand, the U.S. should stop buying
it (Mendoza, 2015)."
Conclusion
The illegal and unethical exploitation of human beings by criminal or political organizations has been happening around the world for centuries. It is with the advent of communication technologies that these activities can now be monitored and addressed. Human trafficking crosses international boundaries and occurs in virtually every state in America. The victims are afraid and abused, many times unable or unwilling to escape due to threats of consequences; subsequently they do not reach out for help.
It is the responsibility of federal, state, and local agencies to be alert for the possibility of human trafficking in order to assist the victims and prosecute the criminals associated with the practice. With the help of the public, significant reduction of activities associated with human trafficking can be achieved.
References
Abadinsky, H. (2004). Organized crime. Boston, Mass.: Allyn and Bacon.
Acf.hhs.gov. (2012). Services Available to Victims of Human Trafficking | Office of Refugee
Resettlement | Administration for Children and Families. Retrieved 23 April 2015, from
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/resource/services-available-to-victims-of-human-
trafficking
Art Therapy. (2014). Art Therapy, Trafficking and Slavery: Utilizing the Arts to Help Heal
Trauma - Art Therapy. Retrieved 20 April 2015, from
http://www.arttherapyblog.com/ptsd/art-therapy-trafficking-slavery-utilizing-the-arts-to-
help-heal-trauma/#.VTg3WDt0ypo
FBI. (2015). Help Us Identify Potential Human Trafficking Victims. Retrieved 22 April 2015,
trafficking_012012
Houstonrr.org. (2015). United Against Human Trafficking Relaunch Event | Houston Rescue and
Restore Coalition. Retrieved 23 April 2015, from http://www.houstonrr.org/event/united-
against-human-trafficking-relaunch-event/
Office of the United States Press Secretary. (2014). Presidential Proclamation -- National
Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2015. Retrieved from
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/31/presidential-proclamation-national-slavery-and-human-trafficking-prevent
Justice.gov. (2015). Civil Rights Division Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit page. Retrieved
23 April 2015, from http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/crm/htpu.php
Logan, T., Walker, R., & Hunt, G. (2009). Understanding Human Trafficking in the United
States. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 10(1), 3-30. doi:10.1177/1524838008327262
Mendoza, M. (2015). House panel is told of slavery in Thai seafood industry. Olean Times
Herald. Retrieved from
http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/nation_world/article_abacb8f0-e974-11e4-a13d-
a37979351a76.html
Polaris: Freedom Happens Now. (2014). 2014 Statistics. Retrieved 19 April 2015, from
http://www.polarisproject.org/storage/documents/2014statistics.pdf
U.S Department of State. (2014). Trafficking in Persons Report. Retrieved from
http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/
Walker-Rodriguez, A., & Hill, R. (2011). Human sex trafficking. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,
80(3), 1-9.
Zalisko, W. (2000). Russian organized crime: The foundation for trafficking. Police, 24(5), 18-
22.
