Human trafficking is a harrowing reality in the United States. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, human trafficking is on the rise, with a 49% increase in referrals for human trafficking offenses from 2011 to 2021. The number of prosecutions more than doubled during the same period. As we observe Human Trafficking Awareness Month, these alarming statistics serve as a call to action for collective efforts to combat this grave violation of human right. This blog post delves into the insidious methods traffickers use to exploit vulnerabilities, the signs of trafficking, and the profound impact on survivors that LSSNCA serves.
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) serves some of the most vulnerable communities at risk for trafficking, including unaccompanied youth and asylum-seekers. LSSNCA also provides resources and support through the Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (TVAP), and our Legal Services program also provides trafficking assessments and assisrtnance or referrals as needed.
What is Human Trafficking
The United Nations defines Human Trafficking as “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit.” More than 27 million people are trafficked worldwide at any given time, according to the U.S. State Department.
Who Falls Victim to Human Trafficking in the U.S.?
Traffickers prey on the most vulnerable, predominantly affected by economic hardship, children with dysfunctional families, intimate partners as traffickers, and immigration status. While boys and men are victims as well, most individuals identified as trafficked for both labor and commercial sex are women and girls. For every 10 victims detected globally, five are adult women and two are girls, according to a report released in 2021 by the United Nation Office on Drug and Crime.
Traffickers employ false promises and create illusions of a better life as common tactics to lure victims, using recruitment methods that encompass coercion, manipulation, and even abduction.
Identifying Human Trafficking: Common Signs
Signs of trafficking among individuals include restricted freedom, physical abuse, fear, anxiety, lack of control over personal choices, and sudden behavioral changes. According to the U.S. Department of State, indicators of human trafficking include:
- Living with employer
- Poor living conditions
- Multiple people in cramped space
- Inability to speak to an individual alone
- Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed
- Employer holding identity documents
- Signs of physical abuse
- Submissive or fearful
- Unpaid or paid very little
- Under 18 and in prostitution
Indicators of Human Trafficking
Preventing human trafficking necessitates education, awareness campaigns, and community outreach. Addressing root causes and fostering relationships with task forces, law enforcement, and community groups are integral to these efforts.
Certain indicators can help identify potential trafficking situations, such as cramped living conditions, scripted answers, and signs of physical abuse. Asking specific questions can reveal the reality of someone’s situation, including their ability to leave a job, freedom of movement, and potential threats to themselves or their families.
The U.S. State Department advises asking the following questions to help identify victims of human trafficking:
- Can you leave your job if you want to?
- Can you come and go as you please?
- Have you been hurt or threatened if you tried to leave?
- Has your family been threatened?
- Do you live with your employer?
- Where do you sleep and eat?
- Are you in debt to your employers?
- Do you have your passport/identification? Who has it
Short and Long-Term Effects on Survivors
Survivors of human trafficking endure immediate effects like physical injuries and trauma. The long-term consequences include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, trust issues, and difficulties forming relationships. Addressing these challenges is crucial for their overall recovery. Therefore, it is imperative to understand that survivors require individual attention and tailored service.
LSSNCA’s Holistic Approach to Support Survivors of Trafficking
LSSNCA employs a holistic approach, collaborating with program participants to determine their needs and crafting personalized service plans. Survivors of trafficking require a comprehensive range of services, encompassing medical care, therapy, legal assistance, vocational training, and tailored support based on individual needs. LSSNCA provides support through its Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (TVAP) and Child Trafficking Victim Assistance Demonstration Program (Aspire) for those awaiting their Trafficking, or T-visa, certification which entitles them to federal and state benefits, like refugees.
The TVAP program serves program participants for an average of one year, focusing on ensuring survivors achieve stability, including a safe living environment, a means of income, and access to legal services. The program also connects program participants with counseling services through LSSNCA’s Counseling, Access, Referrals, and Education (CARE) for Newcomers program, addressing the unique needs of women and girls and providing assistance to men and boys who have fallen prey to labor trafficking.
CARE for Newcomers, TVAP, our Legal Services programs and other services are also important for recognizing trafficking signs where they may have been overlooked or miscategorized previously.
The stories below of two program participants highlight the impact LSSNCA services have in different areas of identifying trafficking.
Sandra, a young woman from Tajikistan, who came on a student visa was trafficked by her host family. After enduring sexual and emotional abuse for years, her trafficker had a stroke and passed away. Suddenly the young woman was forced to make decisions and have autonomy that had been controlled and managed for years. She required constant attention and was flagged as extremely vulnerable. She began receiving services with her extensive history of trauma, she struggled with severe anxiety and depression that decreased her ability to get through a day without constant triggering. The TVAP program connected her to the CARE team for intensive trauma-based therapy. With consistent support and encouragement, she learned coping skills, developed feelings of self-worth, and increased her ability to advocate for herself and was later successfully employed.
Carlos, who was enrolled in the CARE program, discussed his work experience with his clinician during wellness sessions. His therapist grew concern about trafficking as signs presented themselves. After completing a trafficking assessment, it was determined that Carlos had been trafficked for labor in Texas and was again being trafficked in the DMV.
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, or think you may be, call 911. To report suspected trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). You can also seek support through our TVAP program.
Serve Boldly 