Shining a light into the shadows of human trafficking
Human trafficking happens when adults and children are forced against their will into the sex industry, which includes prostitution, posing nude, sex parties and all other forms of sexual violence. Part and parcel with that comes being forced to provide labor in homes, restaurants, farms, factories and construction sites. The recent proliferation of trafficked sex workers in America’s oil patch is just the latest form of an old and ever-expanding crime.
We at Community Against Violence want to emphasize that forcing someone to have unwanted sex with others is not only a violent act, but also a crime. In America, the crime of human trafficking (which includes forced labor) is second only to drug trafficking as the nation’s most common form of criminal enterprise.
Human trafficking is difficult to recognize and, therefore, also hard to prosecute. Human trafficking can be found in the shadows of all parts of the American landscape — from the mansions of the rich and famous to the alleys of our towns. Yet it mostly manages to stay out of the spotlight and, too often, beyond the scope of law enforcement and crime statistics.
According to national reports, victims are most often members of America’s “shadow societies” — those who are homeless, runaways from abusive families, racial and ethnic minorities and migrant workers. The victims predominately come from the most marginalized and vulnerable groups in the country. Many victims escape abusive or neglectful households only to feel alone. As a result, they become vulnerable to believing someone who claims they are going to “save” and “protect” them. Some get “befriended” while looking for jobs to help them support their families back home.
Reports show the perpetrators of human trafficking are overwhelmingly people with whom the victim is familiar: relatives, friends, politically-connected individuals, and other familiar individuals operating alone, those in loosely affiliated groups or as part of gangs, or transnational criminal organizations.
Once entrapped, the great majority of victims are forced to perform sex acts with strangers, for money or drugs for their traffickers. The “promise” is a way out of their situation, and a portion of the money the traffickers get for the sex supposedly goes to “help” them get free. Instead, predators keep the money and control through physical isolation, emotional manipulation, false promises of love, threats of various forms of harm, or addictive substance use. Physical violence and threats of injury, abandonment or public exposure are also the standard of human trafficking predators.
Over the years, CAV has helped many people who were trafficked here in our local communities. Most often, it was friends, family or acquaintances who recognized signs of trafficking and called for help. Here are some of those indicators:
• Poor living conditions
• Multiple people living in a cramped space
• Not allowed to speak to someone alone
• Scripted and rehearsed answers
• Victim living with their employer
• Employer keeps victim’s identity documents
• Signs of physical abuse
• Submissive or fearful
• Unpaid/paid very little
• Under 18 and in sex work/ prostitution Human trafficking is a crime that is frequently under-reported. Its victims can be difficult to identify, and due to fear of retaliation, may refuse to testify. If you suspect someone is being trafficked, report it to the following organizations:
• CAV’s 24/7 Helpline 575-758-9888.
• NM Dream Center 24/7 Emergency Human Trafficking Hotline 505-504-1301, 888-373-7888 [TTY: 711], or by texting “BeFree” to 233733.
• U.S. Department of Home land Security 866-347-2423 or submit online tip at ICE. gov/tips.
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (800) THE-LOST (843-5678) or CyberTipLine.com.
Malinda Williams is the executive director of Community Against Violence (CAV), which offers FREE confidential support and assistance for child and adult survivors of sexual and domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and child/elder abuse; community and school violence prevention programs; re-education groups for people using power and control in their relationships; counseling; shelter; transitional housing; and community thrift store. To talk or get information on services, call CAVs 24-hour HELPline at 575758-9888 or 24-hour TEXTline 575-770-2706 or visit TaosCAV.org.