Human Trafficking: An American Problem That’s Finally on the Radar

Most people think that modern day slavery is confined to other parts of the world. But it’s going on in the United States, right before our eyes.

By Angela Sivak, NCPC Intern, and Kelsey Tokar, NCPC Staff

Human trafficking has been termed “modern day slavery,” and for a good reason. Each year, traffickers are quick to trick victims into believing they can improve their lives, when in reality, they end up living under the constant threat of danger. More than 17,500 victims are smuggled into the United States each year and put to work as domestic servants or sex workers.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) defines a human trafficking victim as “a person induced to perform labor or a commercial sex act through force, fraud or coercion.” Traffickers control virtually every aspect of their victim’s lives. Through the use of manipulation and physical and psychological force, traffickers are able to keep their victims from escaping. Victims of human trafficking live under the constant threat of danger, believing that if they disobey the trafficker, the trafficker will follow through with whatever threats he or she has made.

Human trafficking is often looked upon as an issue that plagues other countries, not the United States. But that isn’t true. According to the Polaris Project Action Center, the United States is a prime trafficking location for victims largely from Mexico, East Asia, and Africa. With local economies around the world, including our own, in crisis, the need to address this issue is urgent.

We know the problem, but is there a solution? While the U.S. government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have spent large amounts of time, effort, and money combating this problem, there is still more that needs to be done. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is taking a leading role in the fight against human trafficking, as she did as the junior senator from New York. Clinton has said, “. . .  we’re going to have a very active office on trafficking, we’re going to be speaking out consistently and strongly against discrimination and oppression of women, and slavery in particular.”

The 2008 Trafficking in Persons Report reveals that in the past year, the United States government spent approximately $23 million on domestic programs working to fight human trafficking. Money was also spent on protecting victims of trafficking, as well as sponsoring media awareness of the issue in hopes of preventing new incidents. Although this money is critical, Clinton has proposed an additional approach that should be taken in order to combat trafficking: partnerships. These partnerships would be formed with governments and NGOs around the world with hopes of ending human trafficking both domestically and internationally.

One step Congress has taken to reduce human trafficking is reauthorizing the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This act was updated and revised in 2008 to add legislation on trafficking crimes, punishments, and liabilities. New language was added to broaden the scope of charges to include those who conspire to commit forced labor. The act also expands on what must be proved under the law in order to zero in on all parties who come in contact with the victim. This revision is a critical step in restoring justice to victims by ensuring that all those involved with forcing them into trafficking are rightfully charged.

As the United States continues to work to combat human trafficking, we are reminded of the seriousness of the problem almost daily. Survivors tell horrific stories of what they went through. The Houston Chronicle reported the story of the soft-spoken Salvadoran man who was promised a better life in the United States by a human trafficker. The smuggler agreed to safely transfer the man into the United States for thousands of dollars but instead took the victim to a ranch in Houston, TX, where he was not only forced to work without pay, but was also raped, beaten, and burned with cigarettes.

Or the heartbreaking story of Katya, a 20-year-old Ukrainian university student who signed up for a program to study English in America. Once Katya reached the airport, she was taken by two men who drove her to Detroit, MI, took all her money and her passport and forced her to work 12 hours a day at a strip club. Katya was repeatedly beaten and raped until she finally escaped two years later. Although she escaped, Katya told CNN, she still lives in fear for herself and her family’s life.

Although Clinton has made it clear that the fight against human trafficking is a critical part of the Obama administration’s agenda, there are far too many victims still out there. Fortunately, our country’s efforts to combat this cruel exploitation of human beings have made the United States one of the leading nations in the fight against human trafficking. To read more about government actions being taken to combat human trafficking visit http://www.state.gov/g/tip/.

NCPC is a leader in restoring social justice for at-risk populations. Its programs for children, teens, campus safety, and seniors emphasize its concern for the value of human life. Visit NCPC’s website to learn more about NCPC’s programs. Visit this website to learn more about the effort to combat human trafficking.